Water-Resistant Surface Modification of Hydrophobic Polymers with Water-Soluble Surfactant Additives.

ABSTRACT: Water-soluble nonionic surfactant, pentaethylene glycol monododecyl ether, C12E5, spontaneously blooms to the surface of spin-cast hydrophobic polyisoprenes, generating hydrophilic surfaces. This system provides a simple model for hydrophilic chemical modification of rubbery polymers that demonstrates surprisingly rich, complex, and unexpected behaviour. The vertical depth profiles were quantified using neutron reflectometry (NR) using a novel procedure to account for undulations in the film thickness. Surface properties were characterized using contact angle analysis and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Despite the low surface tension of the toluene solvent used in film preparation and the low surface energy of the polyisoprene (PI) matrix, NR depth profiles revealed clear evidence of surfa

SUBMITTER: Gibson CP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8512660 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature