Linear low-density polyethylene(LLDPE) was melt blended with styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer(SMA).The blending films were then immersed in poly(ethylene glycol)400(PEG400) at room temperature.The surface composition of the blend films was determined by Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy coupled with an variable incidence angle attenuated total reflection accessory(ATR-FTIR).It has been found that PEG400 was grafted onto the surface of the films via esterification with SMA.PEG immersion promoted enrichment of SMA onto the surface of the films.The water contact angle data show that grafting of PEG400 can greatly improve the hydrophilicity of the PE surface.These experiments show that surface functionalization of polyethylene films by blending SMA and then surface grafting of PEG is a feasible process,which suggest a viable and simple route for PE surface modification via blending and grafting.
