ABSTRACT
A large number of polyolefins are widely used due to their advantageous properties such as processability, recyclability, mechanical properties and low cost. However these materials, having such key properties, lack the necessary surface characteristics for particular applications. In different cases, namely specialty films, packaging, adhesive technology, biomedical applications, it is necessary either to improve their wettability, to enhance their hydrophobicity, or to impart oleophobicity. There are many physical and chemical methods to modify polymer surfaces, from chemical etching to plasma treatment [1, 2]; we have tried to modify polyethylene to make it more hydrophobic and oleophobic by application of a fluorinated coating, crosslinked by UV-light. This particular process was selected as it is fast and efficient; moreover, it is eco-friendly, because the energy required for the curing is very low and the formulations do not contain solvents, i.e., the VOC emission is avoided [3].
