Polytetrafluoroethylene surface modification by impregnation with iron and manganese oxides

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) surfaces can be modified by impregnation with Fe and Mn oxides by procedures based on Fe(CO) 5 sorption in the polymer and followed by oxidation with H 2 O 2 or KMnO 4 . The effect of some variables (reagent concentrations and temperature) on the amount of oxides deposited was examined. The oxides incorporated in PTFE can be only partly removed by acid cleaning. Water–PTFE contact angles and PTFE surface resistivity are altered. Electron and x‐ray diffractograms of the oxides were obtained but unambiguous identification was not achieved. Transmission electron microscopy examination of surface replicas showed that impregnation with oxides which covered most of the PTFE surface was fairly uniform.