Method for grafting preformed hydrophilic polymers onto hydrophobic polymer substrates.

摘要

Coatings of hydrophilic organic polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol are grafted to substrates formed from hydrophobic organic polymers and polyorganosiloxanes by exposing the surface of the substrate to an aqueous solution of the hydrophilic polymer in the presence of a solubilized compound of tetravalent cerium that preferably contains hydroxyl or amino groups as ligands. The conditions of the exposure are sufficient to graft at least a portion of the hydrophilic polymer to the surface of the substrate. The resultant coating cannot be removed by washing the substrate with water. This invention also provides aqueous coating compositions for grafting a layer of a hydrophilic organic polymer to a hydrophobic substrate. The compositions comprise a solubilized hydrophilic organic polymer and a solubilized ceric compound in an amount sufficient to promote grafting of the hydrophilic polymer to the substrate.