Surface Modification of Polyethylene Using Soil Fungus With Dichlorophenol‐Degrading Ability and Analysis of its Surface Characteristics

ABSTRACT The surface of polyethylene (PE) plastic bags was modified by a dichlorophenol (DCP)‐degrading soil fungus: Mortierella sp., zygomycete fungus. The modified surface was evaluated by atomic force microscopy (AFM), water drop contact angle measurements, and fluorescence analysis. In the presence of the fungus, the PE plastic bag samples showed improved hydrophilic properties as a result of OH‐group modification. AFM height and phase images showed that the elastic modulus of the PE plastic bag surface increased when the fungus was present. The results showing that the change in the elastic modulus of the PE plastic bag samples was not proportional to their hydrophilicity, suggests that the modification of OH groups and the formation of C–C cross‐linked structures occur in a competitive manner.