Grafting of acrylic acid onto polypropylene films irradiated with argon ions

Polypropylene (PP) foils were irradiated with 100 keV energy Argon ions at different fluences ranging from 1012 up to 2 × 1015 cm−2 and then grafted with acrylic acid (AA). The grafting yield was measured by weight difference and the structural changes on the films were analysed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Different parameters that determined the grafting process such us fluence, grafting time and monomer concentration were analysed. The grafting reached an optimum value at 79% in aqueous solution at 30 min grafting time. The grafting yield as a function of the ion fluence plot, presented a maximum value, as previously found in a study of heavy beam on polymers.