Table 1 Surface properties and composition of PCBMA grafted surfaces prepared using phosphonate and TEMPO initiators by nitroxide mediated free radical polymerization

(M_n)

486^b

390^b

4500^c

6100^c

7050^c

6400^c

7200^c

7900^c

PDI

–

–

1.4

1.2

1.2

1.3

1.2

1.1

Thickness^a (nm)²

1.6 ± 0.2

1.2 ± 0.3

17 ± 2

22 ± 1

28 ± 1

21 ± 1

27 ± 2

29 ± 1

Graft density (μmol/m²)

2.35 ± 0.03

2.42 ± 0.02

0.98 ± 0.02

1.02 ± 0.03

1.04 ± 0.01

1.12 ± 0.02

1.16 ± 0.03

1.17 ± 0.02

Advancing contact angle (^o)

43 ± 2

34 ± 2

79 ± 2

65 ± 2

60 ± 2

89 ± 2

83 ± 2

77 ± 2

Receding contact angle (^o)

31 ± 2

22 ± 2

45 ± 2

40 ± 2

29 ± 2

62 ± 2

56 ± 2

48 ± 2

C (%)^d

55.3 ± 1.1 (54.9)

65.2 ± 1.6 (64.7)

66.3 ± 4.3 (68.1)

70.7 ± 2.3 (71.5)

72.4 ± 0.6 (74.1)

70.9 ± 1.4 (72.6)

73.8 ± 1.8 (74.6)

75.4 ± 2.6 (76.1)

N (%)^d

6.2 ± 0.8 (6.8)

7.6 ± 1.2 (8.4)

10.8 ± 1.5 (12.2)

11.7 ± 0.6 (9.7)

9.2 ± 0.6 (10.4)

12.4 ± 2.3 (12.8)

12.9 ± 2.6 (12.5)

11.4 ± 1.1 (11.7)

O (%)^d

32.7 ± 1.7 (30.8)

27.2 ± 1.3 (26.9)

22.1 ± 2.8 (19.1)

16.9 ± 2.6 (18.3)

17.8 ± 0.8 (15.0)

16.7 ± 3.2 (14.6)

13.3 ± 1.7 (12.9)

13.2 ± 2.1 (12.2)

P (%)^d

5.8 ± 1.2 (7.5)

Nil

0.8 ± 0.2 (0.6)

0.7 ± 0.4 (0.5)

0.6 ± 0.2 (0.5)

Nil

Nil

Nil

N/P

1.07 ± 0.03

Nil

13.5 ± 0.01

16.7 ± 0.01

15.3 ± 0.01

Nil

Nil

Nil

C/N

8.76 ± 0.05

8.43 ± 0.08

5.79 ± 0.21

6.88 ± 0.28

7.73 ± 0.14

5.79 ± 0.24

5.95 ± 0.14

6.67 ± 0.12