Abstract
Summary: The paper deals with the surface and adhesive properties of low‐density polyethylene modified by corona discharge, which appear during the long‐term hydrophobic recovery of the modified polymer. The study was aimed at the change in polarity during aging of low‐density polyethylene modified by corona discharge reducing the surface free energy, its polar component and the mechanical work of adhesion. During the long‐term hydrophobization of low‐density polyethylene the main decrease of the surface properties appeared within the first 30 d after modification. In the course of further aging the hydrophobic recovery of the polymer proceeded more slowly. It has been found that the value of the surface and adhesive properties of low‐density polyethylene after modification with corona discharge as well as the dynamics of their decrease during the aging is to a great extent dependent on the presence of the processing additives in the polymer.
Mechanical work of adhesion of LDPE modified by corona discharge to poly(vinyl acetate) during hydrophobic recovery: a) additive‐free LDPE, b) LDPE with additives.
imageMechanical work of adhesion of LDPE modified by corona discharge to poly(vinyl acetate) during hydrophobic recovery: a) additive‐free LDPE, b) LDPE with additives.