Effect of H₂S Plasma Treatment on the Surface Modification of a Polyethylene Terephthalate Surface

• Published in: Materials Vol. 9; no. 2; p. 95
• Main Authors: Vesel, Alenka, Kovac, Janez, Primc, Gregor, Junkar, Ita, Mozetic, Miran
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI 05.02.2016; MDPI AG
• Subjects: hydrogen sulfide (H2S); plasma treatment; polyethylene terephthalate (PET); polymer; surface modification; polyethylene terephthalate (PET); polymer; hydrogen sulfide (H2S); plasma treatment; surface modification
• ISSN: 1996-1944; 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma9020095

H₂S plasma created by an electrode-less radio-frequency discharge was used to modify the surface properties of the polymer polyethylene terephthalate. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectrometry and atomic force microscopy were used to determine the evolution of the surface functionalities and morphology. A very thin film of chemically bonded sulfur formed on the surface within the first 10 s of treatment, whereas treatment for more than 20 s caused deposition of higher quantities of unbonded sulfur. The sulfur concentration reached a maximum of between 40 and 80 s of plasma treatment; at longer treatment times, the unbonded sulfur vanished, indicating instability of the deposited sulfur layer. Large differences in the surface morphology were observed.