Improving the Dyeing of Polypropylene by Surface Fluorination

The surface of polypropylene (PP) was modified with fluorine gas at 25 °C and 10–380 Torr for 1 h. The surface roughness of the fluorinated PP samples was approximately two times larger than that (5 nm) of the untreated sample. The results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that the bonds (e.g., -C-C- and -CHx) derived from raw PP decreased and were converted into fluorinated bonds (e.g., -CFx) after surface fluorination. These fluorinated bonds showed higher electronegativity according to the zeta potential results. Fluorinated PP could be stained with the methylene blue basic dye because of the increased surface roughness and the negatively charged surface.