Abstract: | Polyethylene (PE) film was treated by corona discharge and then grafted with N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) for modification of the surface. The grafted amount was determined by gravimetry and the surface morphology was observed by using a scanning electron microscope. The surface analysis was carried out with a x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron probe microanalysis. It was clarified that grafting was limited surface and there was no change of the surface morphology after grafting. The water absorption at various temperature under the absolute humidity (11.4 g/cm3) and the leakage of electrostatic charge from PE film were measured. PolyNIPAAm that was introduced onto PE surface has hydrophilic-hydrophobic transition properties at the 32°C in the atmospheric condition. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 68: 1773–1779, 1998 |