The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

The preferential surface segregation of one polymer in the other polymer blend has been used to modify surface properties in an efficient way. Unlike other modification methods, this technique is simple and does not require any complex modeling or extra processing steps for surface modification. We have designed, synthesized, and applied a novel and original series of surface-migrating oligomers having cyclic topology without chain ends for polymer surface modification. An optimized series of the unique oligomers revealed an efficient surface segregation behavior under bulk blending with base polymers. In addition to this, it becomes more powerful when it is converged with polymer brush grafting technologies by using this as a surface-enriching initiator system. Based on our fundamental outcomes, we are extending applications of the cyclic oligomers to interventional devices, extracorporeal medical tools, and even various prostheses and implantable devices.