Preparation and characterization of grafted polyethylene based azo-polymer films

A series of grafted azo-polymers was prepared from commercial low density polyethylene thin plates (PE). Polyethylene was reacted in the presence of acryloyl chloride using gamma irradiation to give precursor grafted polymers. These materials were esterified in the presence of six different commercial azo-dyes: (E)-2-(ethyl(4-((4-nitrophenyl)diazenyl)phenyl)amino)ethanol (Disperse Red-1, DR-1), (E)-2-((4-((2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl)diazenyl)phenyl)(ethyl)amino)ethanol (Disperse Red-13, DR-13), (E)-2,2′-(4-((4-nitrophenyl)diazenyl)phenylazanediyl)diethanol (Disperse Red-19, DR-19), (E)-4-((4-nitrophenyl)diazenyl)aniline (Disperse Orange-3, DO-3), 4-((E)-(4-((E)-phenyldiazenyl)naphthalen-1-yl)diazenyl)phenol (Disperse Orange-13, DO-13) and 2-methyl-4-((E)-(4-((E)-phenyldiazenyl)phenyl)diazenyl)phenol (Disperse Yellow-7, DY-7) to give the expected grafted azo-polymer films. The obtained polymers were fully characterized; their thermal, optical properties and morphology were studied. In particular, the influence of the irradiation conditions and the incorporated azo-dye on the polymer properties is discussed.