Surface Properties of Poly(vinyl alcohol) with Iron(III)chloride Before and After UV-Irradiation

Summary: Surface properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with low content of FeCl₃ (1, 5 wt.%) were studied by measurements of contact angles and atomic force microscopy. The results of contact angles and the surface free energy calculations revealed that the hydrophilicity of the surface of PVA films depended on the content of iron (III) chloride in these polymeric films. Introduced salt also affected photochemical reactions in poly(vinyl alcohol). Photooxidation of PVA was more effective in the presence of FeCl₃ because of formation of reactive chlorine atoms, which were capable of initiating new reactions. Also the morphology and roughness parameters of PVA film changed when iron (III) chloride was added.