Controllable surface morphology and properties via mist polymerization on a plasma-treated polymethyl methacrylate surface

Abstract

Surface modification by grafting polymers on solid materials is an important strategy used to improve surface properties. This article reports that under appropriate conditions, very thin layers with desired morphologies may be constructed on a plasma-treated substrate by feeding a small quantity of a monomer with a mist stream carrying droplets produced from monomer solutions. We investigate the effects of process parameters that affect layer morphology, including exposure time to the mist stream, concentration of the monomer solution, and solvent selectivity. For a methyl methacrylate solution in ethanol, nanoparticles are uniformly grown with increasing monomer concentration or exposure time and finally form a porous layer at 3.65 mol L(-1) for 30 min. Decreasing solvent polarity not only affects surface morphology, but also increases hydrophobicity of the resulting surface. With 2,2,3,4,4,4-hexafluorobutyl methacrylate as the monomer, SEM and AFM micrographs indicated that mist polymerization results in numerous microspheres on the activated surface. These experimental results were interpreted by a mechanism in terms of an in situ polymerization accompanied by a phase transformation of the resulting polymer. Specifically, plasma treatment provides highly active cations and radicals to initiate very rapid polymerization, and the resulting polymers are consequently deposited from the liquid onto the surface under phase transition mechanisms.

Fabrication of asymmetrically superhydrophobic cotton fabrics via mist copolymerization of 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl methacrylate

“…This mechanism is based on a graft polymerization accompanied with a phase transformation of the resulted polymer from the monomer solution. Similar to our previous work, the growth of the cover layer by mist copolymerization can be divided into four stages: (I) mist condensation on the activated surface, (II) graft polymerization, (III) precipitation of the resulting polymer, and (IV) removal of the solvent.…”

“…In our previous works, a “mist polymerization” technique has been developed for surface modification. As the name implies, monomer for the polymerization is fed by a mist stream produced from a monomer solution.…”

Wear‐resistant cotton fabrics modified by PU coatings prepared via mist polymerization

“…We recently developed a “mist polymerization” technique to modify solid substrate surfaces. Because the monomer feeding in this process is a mist stream atomized from a monomer solution, the thickness and the surface morphology of the resulting polymer layer are tunable by varying the polymerization factors like monomer concentration, solvent and mist feeding time.…”

Where physics meets chemistry: Thin film deposition from reactive plasmas

“…In the past three years, recent applications of plasma polymerized platforms include:  Utilising the chemical and electrical structure of plasma-polymerized pyrrole (ppPY) as a bioactive platform for DNA immobilization and cell adhesion and as platforms on which to assemble biosensors [26] and as long-range surface plasmon resonance sensors [27]  The application to modify polymer electrolyte membranes for uses in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells [28] and plasma graft-polymerization for the synthesis of highly stable hydroxide exchange membranes [29]  Novel dielectric thin film coatings [30]  Plasma polymerized fluoropolymers to enhance corrosion resistance and haemocompatibility of biomedical NiTi alloys [31] 4  To improve the hydrophobicity of natural materials [32]  Providing amine rich surfaces for chemical coupling reactions, for example amines are used to couple gallic acid. GA was bound to an amine-group-rich plasma-polymerized allylamine (PPAam) coating to provide surfaces for Endothelial Cells and Smooth Muscle Cells selectivity [33]  The functionalization of multi-walled CNTs to improve their dispersion in polymer matrices [34]  The surface modification of advanced (aramid) polymer fibres [35] and advanced polymer membranes [36] and for new surfaces to control crystal growth [37]  And, finally, adapted plasma techniques have been used to grow first microspheres on surfaces and then microporous surfaces [38] or improved biomaterials [39].…”