Poly(ethylene-d4)

• CAS: 25549-98-8
• Catalog Number: ACM25549988
• Category: Main Products
• Molecular Weight: 96.23
• Molecular Formula: C₆D₁₂X₂
• Synonyms: POLY(ETHYLENE-D4);POLYETHYLENE (ETHYLENE-D4);POLY(ETHYLENE-D4), 98 ATOM % D;Deuterated polyethylene
• Melting Point: 130-145°C(lit.)

Case Study

Application of Polyethylene-d4 in Surface Modification Analysis of UHMWPE Membranes

Joshi, Ranjit, et al. Plasma chemistry and plasma processing, 2013, 33, 921-940.

This study employed underwater plasma, generated via glow discharge electrolysis, to functionalize ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) membranes, followed by polymer coating. To enhance signal clarity in FTIR-ATR analyses, deuterated polyethylene (PE-d4) was substituted for standard UHMWPE-h4, with PE-d4 membranes prepared identically to UHMWPE counterparts (see figure, left).
FTIR-ATR Analysis
The spectra of untreated UHMWPE (A) and pristine PE-d4 (B) are shown (figure, right). Spectrum C corresponds to PE-d4 impregnated with a hydrogel.
Key bands in sample C include PEG backbone vibrations at 945-960 cm-1 and 838 cm-1, alongside poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) features. A distinct 943 cm-1 signal, absent in PE-d4 (B), suggests unsaturated C=C bonds in the acrylic acid backbone, likely induced by plasma treatment with PEG, MBA, and acrylic acid. Additional markers at 1,242 cm-1 (νC-O) and 1,168 cm-1 (δOH) confirm PAA presence.
A broad O-H stretching band (3,000-3,600 cm-1) in sample C reflects plasma-polymerized PAA-PEG-MBA copolymer. PEG's terminal OH groups yield weak signals, but copolymerization with acrylic acid intensifies the 3,300 cm-1 band. IR data confirm the hydrogel's permanent entrapment of PAA-PEG-MBA within the membrane, resistant to rinsing. This underscores the efficacy of underwater plasma in grafting stable functional coatings onto UHMWPE surfaces.