Wetting properties of polyacetylene films

The wetting characteristics of free‐standing polyacetylene films were determined by using a standard series of wetting liquids. As‐prepared films of cis ‐polyacetylene were found to contain a significant polar contribution to the surface free energy, which became nearly entirely dispersive upon thermal isomerization to the trans form. Both isomeric forms are characterized by a critical surface tension of wetting γ c ≈ 51 mN/m, which is considerably higher than that normally obtained from organic polymers. These results have been interpreted with respect to surface oxidation and tested by examining an oxidized film.