Surface activation of perfluorinated polymers

The further development of a method to activate the surface of non-porous perfluorinated polymers are described. A closed layer of polysilicic acid was formed on the surfaces of perfluorinated polymers through treatment with SiCl4 and H2O. The layer was firmly anchored to the polymers through a mixed layer composed of polysilicic acid and perfluorinated polymer. The treatment enabled the surface activation of polymer samples independently of their shape and the thickness of the polysilicic acid layer could be influenced by the reaction conditions. The primary structure of the perfluorinated polymer remained essentially unchanged. The first results on the further functionalisation of the modified polymers with silane coupling agents, as the basis for the building of multilayer composites, is described. The system perfluorinated polymer/polysilicic acid/silane coupling agent was characterised using SEM, EDX, XPS, IR, DSC and contact angle measurements, with respect to the surface morphology, chemical composition and activation as well as the distribution of the polysilicic acid on the surface and within the perfluorinated polymer.