Analysis of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) grafted onto the surface of PET films by SI-ATRP technique

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), PNIPAAm, was grafted on the surface of poly(ethylene terephthalate), PET, and films previously modified with poly(glycidyl methacrylate), PGMA, and photo-oxidized, using atom transfer radical polymerization, ATRP, techniques. The grafting of NIPAAm occurs in the oxidized PET surface in the same way as in the surfaces modified with PGMA. The film's surface was analyzed by contact angle measurement, roughness mean square (RMS), and determined by atomic force microscopy, AFM and ATR–FTIR.