Surface graft polymerization onto silicone

A method was developed for surface graft polymerization onto silicone. A silicone prepolymer carrying vinyl groups, which can be cured by a free‐radical mechanism, was used. Acrylamide can be easily graft polymerized by simply heating the films made of a mixture of the silicone prepolymer and peroxide in an acrylamide monomer solution using an autoclave. Any complicated procedures, such as thorough degassing of the silicone films and the monomer solution, and sealing them into a glass ampoule, are not necessary. The grafted layer uniformly covered the silicone surface. The surface properties of the silicone become hydrophilic and slippery after grafting of the poly(acrylamide).