Synthesis of grafted polyethylene by ion beam modification

Abstract The chemical reactivity of polyethylene modified by irradiation with 40 keV Ar + ions to fluences of 1 × 10 12 −1 × 10 15 cm −2 was studied. Ion beam modified polyethylene was exposed to the solutions of CH 2 CHCOOH, CH 2 CHCN and Br 2 and the chemical and structural changes were examined using IR-, UV-VIS-spectroscopies, electronparamagnetic resonance and Rutherford back-scattering techniques. The above agents were found to react with radicals and conjugated double bonds created by the ion irradiation. Radical and additive reactions in the ion beam modified surface layer may lead to the creation of a grafted surface layer up to 150 nm thick.