Plasmabromination – the Selective Way to Monotype Functionalized Polymer Surfaces

In contrast to other plasma modification processes of polymer surfaces, the bromination is very selective and shows a high yield in C-Br groups. The most convenient bromination process was found using bromoform, which was thus preferred to elemental bromine, allyl bromide, vinyl bromide or tert-butylbromide. The bromoform process give yields in C-Br up to 40 C-Br or more, with only 2-3% co-introduction of O-functionalities whereas allyl bromide results in yields of about 20 C-Br and more, but in more than 10% oxygen-containing by-products. C-Br groups serve as anchoring points for grafting of molecules, oligomers and pre-polymers of diole or diamine character.