Solvent free vapour phase photografting of acrylamide onto poly(methyl methacrylate)

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) sheets were surface grafted with acrylamide under reduced pressure in a solvent free vapour of acrylamide and benzophenone. The grafting was initiated with UV irradiation and no pre-treatment of PMMA by impregnation or sorption of reactants was required. Characterization of grafted samples by ESCA and contact angles showed that the nitrogen content increased with grafting time and temperature. The surface bound amide groups obtained were converted into amine groups by the Hofmann reaction and used in coupling reactions with a p-nitrophenylcarbonate terminated PEG and 4,4,4-trifluoro butyraldehyde.