Formation and reaction of polyenesulfonic acid. I. Reaction of polyethylene films with SO3

The surface of polyethylene (PE) film was sulfonated by reaction with gaseous SO3. The structure of the sulfonated PE films was determined on the basis of spectroscopic data such as IR, UV, and resonance Raman spectra. It was confirmed that a PE film and SO3 gave unsaturated sulfonic acids and that, as the reaction proceeded, the elimination of sulfurous acids took place to form sulfonic acids having highly conjugated CC unsaturated bonds.