Functional group analysis on oxidized surfaces of synthetic textile polymers

A comprehensive collection of wet-chemical analyses of functional groups on oxidatively treated surfaces of hydrophobic polymers like poly(ethylene terephthalate) or polyolefine is presented. New methods are introduced. Textiles and foils have been subjected to advanced oxidation processes and the different oxygen functions have been quantified. Analysis of surface functional groups includes radical site determination with radical scavengers like diphenylpicrylhydrazyl, reduction of peroxides determined iodometrically, cationic dyestuff adsorption, carbonyl binding to Girard reagent P and surface hydroxyl group determination by surface nitrosation and subsequent azo-dye formation photometrically determinable. Use of potential surface swelling agents has been excluded except for addition of wetting agent. Wet-chemical analyses on textile surfaces bear the benefit of integrating over (relatively) large sample areas, a point which is interesting when regarding inhomogenities of textile or other surface constructions. In addition examples for visualisation for the existence of surface groups are described.