Title

Plasma treatment of polymer surfaces: Characterization and consequences

Authorship

DARQUECERETTI, E.; PUYDT, Y. DE; REPOUX, M.; PASCAL, J.

DARQUECERETTI, E.

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PUYDT, Y. DE

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REPOUX, M.

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PASCAL, J.

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DOI

10.5151/2594-5327-49v9-51-54

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Abstract

In the frame of a study of adhesion improvement of polymers, plasma treatments have been performed on well-described surfaces, in order to modify the surface reactivity. Various gases have been used for this purpose. The chemical and physico-chemical characterization of the initial and modified surfaces have been conducted using various methods (XPS: X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and TOF-SIMS: Time-Of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass analysis). The acido-basicity of the extreme surface layer have been studied by contact angle titration. This last method is a measurement of the wetting angle between the polymer surface and aqueous solutions of different pH. The results show that the polymer surface, initially “apolar”, is deeply modified by the plasma. Basic and/or acid sites are created, new functional groups appear. They depend on the gas used in the plasma. It is important to note that aqueous solution which is used for angle measurement may create superficial attack.

Keywords

plasma treatment, polymer surfaces, surface modification, spectroscopy, wetting angle