ABSTRACT
Abstract-The UV irradiation of polymers containing phenyl ester units yields o-and p-hydroxyphenone groups (photo-Fries rearrangement). In this paper we report on the photo-induced changes in the surface properties of poly(4-acetoxystyrene) as a model polymer. The changes in surface energy and streaming potential were studied as a function of UV illumination time. Both contact angle and zeta potential measurements confirmed that acidic phenolic units were generated at the polymer surface upon UV illumination. These findings were supported by FTIR data. Photoreactive polymers of this type are of interest as functional surface coatings for a variety of substrates.
