ACRYLIC-ACID GRAFTED POLYESTER SURFACE - SURFACE FREE-ENERGIES, FT-IR(ATR), AND ESCA CHARACTERIZATION

The surface of polyester grafted with acrylic acid has been characterized using contact angle measurements of a two-liquid phase system and FT-IR and ESCA spectroscopy as a function of the concentration of acrylic acid on grafting. The COOH groups on the polymer surface influence only the polar component gamma-S(p) of surface energy and not the dispersive one gamma-S(d). Both the FT-IR and ESCA characterizations, showing the transformation of COOH to COONa by alkaline treatment, provide information with a high degree of surface sensitivity, comparable to that of contact angle measurements. The relative area ratios of the COONa peak to the COOR peak by FT-IR (A(surface)) and of the Na1s peak to the C1s peak by ESCA are linearly correlated to gamma-S(p).