The preparation of a stabile blend from thermoplastic polymer and lubricating additive was studied with high density polyethylene (HDPE) and perfluoropoIyether (PFPE). PFPE was melt blended within HDPE by injection molding. The chemical composition of the mixtures, the relative amount of PFPE on the surface, and the nature of the surface were studied by three surface sensitive methods: attenuated total reflectance infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS), and contact angle (CA) measurement. All the blends exhibited improved hydrophobicity. CA and SIMS gave a maximum response when about 2.0 wt % PFPE was added, whereas ATR-IR spectroscopy gave maximum response for an addition of about 3.0 wt %. No changes in surface properties were observed when samples were reanalyzed about 1-4 months after preparation. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.