Improvement of bonding properties of polyethylene

If the surface of a polyethylene film is subjected to certain treatments, printing on the surface becomes possible, or, in other words, the bonding properties of the polyethylene film are improved. Two forms of treatment, involving the use of a Tesla coil discharge at atmospheric pressure and of a glow discharge at reduced pressure, have been developed. Through the use of a Beckman IR‐3 spectrophotometer, it has been found that the treatments cause formation of unsaturated (CC) bonds and carbonyl (CO) groups in the polyethylene molecule. The improved bonding properties may be due to oxidation of the plastic surface.