Effects of aluminum ionomer surface layers on polymer properties

Bulk samples of carboxylic acid containing copolymers may be treated with solutions of aluminum isopropoxide, Al(OC3H7)3, to produce ionically gelled surface layers. The behavior of treated specimens is different from that of untreated specimens in tests which measure friction coefficient, stress crack resistance, and tensile strength. In several instances the results are compared to those produced by CASING, another technique for producing crosslinked surface regions.