Surface structure and energy of polyethylene modified with multifunctional modifiers

Low density polyethylene [LOPE] modified with a new group of modifiers, containing carboxyl groups, was chosen for investigation. Zinc oxide [ZnO] and dicumyl peroxide [DCP] were added to some systems. In this paper, the main interest was in surface energy and structure of the system, determined using wet angle measurement method and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-attenuated total reflection method FTIR-ATR. Modification leads to changes of surface energy, especially its polar component. It was observed, when ZnO and DCP were not added to the LDPE. It seams, that modifiers migrated on the surface. In another way, an organic initiator promoted the formation of macro-radicals which combined with maleic groups in grafting reaction.