Infrared study of substrate effects in the surface region of polyethylene

• Published in: Journal of polymer science. Part A-2, Polymer physics Polymer physics, 1968-09, Vol.6 (9), p.1649-1658
• Main Authors: Luongo, J. P., Schonhorn, H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0449-2978; 1542-9377
• DOI: 10.1002/pol.1968.160060910

The surface of thin polyethylene films (ca. 1 mil) nucleated on high‐ and low‐energy surfaces was studied. It was found that the degree of crystallinity in the surface region, as determined by transmission and reflection infrared spectroscopy, was dependent on the nature of the substrate. Relatively small and randomly oriented spherulites were observed in the surface region of thin polyethylene films nucleated on gold, a high‐energy surface. The surface region of a thin polythylene film nucleated on polytetrafluoroethylene, a low‐energy substrate, was observed to have considerably fewer spherulites, but much larger in size, with orientation restricted, in general, to the plane of the film. The relative intensity of the 720 cm −1 to the 730 cm −1 band in the reflectance spectra (ATR) indicates that the surface region of a polyethylene film nucleated on a high surface energy substrate is more crystalline than the surface region of a film nucleated on a low surface energy substrate.