Multipurpose Polymeric Coating for Functionalizing Inert Polymer Surfaces

In this work, we report on the development of a highly functionalizable polymer coating prepared by the chemical coupling of trichlorosilane (TCS) to the vinyl groups of poly(vinylmethyl siloxane) (PVMS). The resultant PVMS-TCS copolymer can be coated as a functional organic primer layer on a variety of polymeric substrates, ranging from hydrophilic to hydrophobic. Several case studies demonstrating the remarkable and versatile properties of PVMS-TCS coatings are presented. In particular, PVMS-TCS is found to serve as a convenient precursor for the deposition of organosilanes and the subsequent growth of polymer brushes, even on hydrophobic surfaces, such as poly(ethylene terephthalate) and polypropylene. In this study, the physical and chemical characteristics of these versatile PVMS-TCS coatings are interrogated by an arsenal of experimental probes, including scanning electron microscopy, water contact-angle measurements, ellipsometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy.