Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) Film Surface Functionalization with 2‐Bromoisobutyryl Bromide as Initiator for Surface‐Initiated Atom‐Transfer Radical Polymerization

A PTFE film surface was modified using a combined plasma/ozone‐activated process. The modified PTFE film was further reacted with 2‐bromoisobutyryl bromide to incorporate ATRP initiators in the film surface. Surface‐initiated ATRP on PTFE films was performed using sodium styrene sulfate as a monomer. The poly(sodium styrene sulfate) chain length grafted onto PTFE film surfaces increased with increasing reaction time. Analysis using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and a contact angle analyzer gave evidence of the success of the PTFE surface modifications.