A Facile Method for Delaying the Migration of Antifogging Agents in Polyethylene Films

Antifog polyethylene (PE) films are widely used as covers for greenhouse structures because they can eliminate the multiple adverse effects of the fogging phenomenon. Herein, we propose a way to enhance the shelf life of antifog PE films by delaying the migration of antifogging agents using polymer microspheres. Cross-linked poly(maleic anhydride-styrene-divinylbenzene) microspheres (PMSD) were prepared by self-stabilized precipitation polymerization (2SP) and then converted into PMSD grafted with methoxy polyethylene glycol (mPEG) of different chain lengths (PMSD-g-mPEG). PMSD-g-mPEG microspheres were incorporated into PE films with an antifogging agent, and the properties of the prepared antifog PE films were investigated in detail. Scanning electron microscopy displayed the good dispersion state of PMSD-g-mPEG at low loadings and its positive correlation with mPEG chain length. Accelerated dripping experiments and contact angle tests showed that PMSD-g-mPEG2000 microspheres can exert the best effect in delaying the migration of antifogging agents, giving rise to a 36% improvement in dripping duration under optimized conditions. In addition, PMSD-g-mPEG2000 microspheres do not affect the optical, mechanical, and thermal properties of antifog PE films obviously.

Automated summary

The shelf life of antifog polyethylene (PE) films can be enhanced by delaying the migration of antifogging agents using polymer microspheres.