Modification of polyethylene surfaces with carbethoxy substituted carbenes and nitrenes

Carbethoxycarbene, carbethoxynitrene, and nitrene generated respectively by the pyrolysis of ethyl diazoacetate, ethyl azidoformate, chloramine and sodium hydroxyl amine-o-sulfonate are shown to irreversibly modify the surface of polyethylene as shown by wettability measurements. The nature of the modification is not fully understood; however, insertion of the carbene or nitrene into a carbon-hydrogen bond appears likely. The modified surfaces thus formed are shown to undergo several classical organic reactions as again determined by wettability measurements.