FT‐IR spectroscopic investigations of photochemical grafting of amphiphiles onto polyacrylonitrile surfaces

The photoreactive amphiphile p‐(stearyl amido) benzoyl azide (SABAz) was synthesized and grafted onto surface of thin polyacrylonitrile (PAN) films by irradiation with UV light. Two different techniques were applied, namely, Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) deposition and casting from solution. A high degree of order and a hydrophobic surface were established by reflection‐absorption FT‐IR spectroscopy (RA‐IR) and contact angle measurements. The stability against treatment with water, tetrahydrofuran, and chloroform was tested. A considerable amount of amphiphilic molecules remains on the surface also after treatment with chloroform. RA‐IR spectra taken from photomodified PAN films prepared by both techniques are almost identical after chloroform treatment, indicating a similar coupling mechanism.