Fabrication of a continuous wettability gradient by radio frequency plasma discharge

Radio frequency (RF) plasma discharge in atmospheres of ammonia, oxygen, and sulfur dioxide was used to create a continuous change in wettability on the surfaces of polyethylene, polystyrene, polydimethylsiloxane, and polytetrafluoroethylene. These continuous changes, referred to as wettability grad...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of colloid and interface science Vol. 133; no. 1; pp. 223 - 227
Main Author Pitt, William G
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 1989
Elsevier
Subjects
Applied sciences
Coating, metallization, dyeing
Exact sciences and technology
Machinery and processing
Plastics
Polymer industry, paints, wood
Technology of polymers
Dimethylsiloxane polymer
Polyethylene
Wettability
Plasma reactor
Tetrafluoroethylene polymer
Surface properties
Polymer
Styrene polymer
Property processing relationship
Electric discharge
Surface treatment
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Summary:Radio frequency (RF) plasma discharge in atmospheres of ammonia, oxygen, and sulfur dioxide was used to create a continuous change in wettability on the surfaces of polyethylene, polystyrene, polydimethylsiloxane, and polytetrafluoroethylene. These continuous changes, referred to as wettability gradients, were produced by exposing the polymers to the RF plasma in a box with a cover which opened at a constant velocity. Contact angles of water on the derivatized polymer surfaces decreased monotonically as the time of plasma exposure increased. A wide range in wettability was produced by manipulating the RF power, the gas species, and the duration of plasma exposure. The production of such surfaces has promising application in surface science because a continuous spectrum of surface energies or surface chemistries can be produced on one sample at one time.
ISSN:0021-9797
1095-7103
DOI:10.1016/0021-9797(89)90295-6