Large-area and uniform surface modification of polymers by barrier discharge plasmas

• Published in: Surface & coatings technology Vol. 205; no. 11; pp. 3434 - 3437
• Main Authors: Niu, Jinhai, Liu, Dongping, Wu, Yunfeng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 25.02.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: AFM; Barometric pressure; Barriers; Breakdown; Contact angle; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Dielectric barrier discharge; Discharge; Exact sciences and technology; Glow discharge; Low pressure; Materials science; Physics; Plasmas; Polymers; Surface chemistry; Surface modification; Surface treatments; AFM; Surface modification; Contact angle; Dielectric barrier discharge; Glow discharge; Atomic force microscopy; Plasma; Dielectric materials; Surface treatments; Polymers; Glow discharges
• ISSN: 0257-8972; 1879-3347
• DOI: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2010.12.004

A barrier discharge experimental setup for low-pressure and large-area (400mm×600mm) surface modification of polymers is reported. The low-pressure barrier discharge plasma consists of pulsed and glow-like breakdowns with peak widths of several microseconds and leads to the uniform surface modification of polymers. In contrast, the filamentary discharges produced at atmospheric pressure cause surface damage and nonuniform treatment of polymers. This study indicates that barrier discharge plasmas generated in the small gas spacing at low discharge pressure result in efficient collisions between polymer surface and activated species, and an extremely low consumption of feed gas and discharge power. ► Large area surface modification of polymers using low pressure barrier discharge. ► Low pressure barrier discharge consists of pulsed glow breakdowns. This discharge leads to uniform surface modification of polymers. ► Filamentary discharges at atmospheric pressure cause damage to polymers. ► This design results in an low consumption of feed gas and discharge power.