STUDIES ON THE RADIATION-INDUCED GRAFT-COPOLYMERIZATION OF MIXTURES OF NORMAL-BUTYL ACRYLATE AND 2-HYDROXYETHYL METHACRYLATE ON POLYURETHANE .1. SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION

Abstract

Modification of polyurethane, by grafting two types of monomers, a hydrophilic and hydrophobic, with an aim to enrich the surface with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties, is attempted. Grafting of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and n-butyl acrylate from a mixture of these two onto polyurethane by gamma-irradiation and subsequent characterization of the graft copolymer by infrared spectroscopic method, mechanical characterization, contact angle, and scanning electron microscopy is detailed.