Surface modifying strategies were developed to immobilize PAA cross-linked layers (hydrogel layers) with different thicknesses by chemical binding to the surface of polyethylene (PE). Polyethylene films were functionalized by two methods, chromic acid oxidation and maleic anhydride grafting. The reaction of the functional groups placed onto the film surface with ethylenediamine promoted the formation of an amine-functionalized surface. The thickness of the hydrogel layer was correlated with the presence and the release of impregnated ethylenediamine during the immobilization of the PAA chains by thermal esterification. Ethylenediamine acts as a cross-linking agent between different PAA chains. Attenuated total reflectance (ATR) FTIR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the chemical composition and the morphologies of the modified film surface. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.