An atomic-force microscopy study of the formation of vinyl and acryl graft polymers on a polypropylene film surface

Changes in the surface structure of oriented polypropylene (PP) films in conditions of graft copolymerization of acrylamide, vinylpyridine, and styrene on a PP surface preliminary subjected to plasmochemical activation in oxygen plasma or in a plasma-electrolyte solution system are investigated by atomic-force microscopy. It is shown that the latter soft conditions of activation are superior to the hard conditions with oxygen plasma in retaining original lamellar structure of oriented PP films. It is established that the subsequent graft copolymerization of the vinyl and acryl monomers on the PP surface yields amorphous phases of respective polymers.