Critical evaluation of conditions of plasma polymerization

Abstract

Under conditions of plasma polymerization, we are dealing with the “reactive” or “self‐exhausting” rather than the “nonreactive” or “non‐self‐exhausting” gas phase (plasma). Therefore, many parameters that define the gas phase, such as system pressure and monomer flow rate, which are measured in the nonplasma state (before glow discharge is initiated), do not apply to a steady state of plasma, the conditions under which most of the studies on plasma polymerization are carried out. Consequently, information based on: (1) the polymer deposition rate measured at a fixed flow rate and discharge power, (2) the dependence of deposition rate on flow rate at fixed discharge power, or (3) the dependence of deposition rate on discharge power at fixed flow rate, does not provide meaningful data that can be used to compare the characteristic nature of various organic compounds in plasma polymerization. The significance and true meaning of experimental parameters applicable to conditions of plasma polymerization are discussed. The most important feature is that plasma polymerizations of various organic compounds should be compared at comparable levels of composite discharge power parameter W/FM, where W is discharge power, F is the monomer flow rate (given in moles), and M is the molecular weight of a monomer.

Surface Effects of Plasma Treatments on Some Biodegradable Polymers.

“…range of 10 W to 50 W. The weight loss degree became greater with power, and especially the decreasing ratio was prominent with the treatments at 50 W. The etching degree was corresponding to the plasma intensity for treatments [7]. The reaction should be also related with the surface oxidation and wettuig.…”

Plasma-polymerized polyaniline films: Synthesis and characterization

“…All reported con- / 8G66$$073P 01-09-98 10:53:07 polca W: Poly Chem the continuous increase in monomer feeding at a constant power input (i.e., 20 W) would inevitably reduce the effective discharge power/monomer mass, leading to a failure to maintain a full glow throughout the reactor. 29,30 The proposed partial glow was evidenced by the significant decrease in the deposition rate with increasing monomer pressure seen in expt. no.…”

Non-thermal plasma assisted lithography for biomedical applications: an overview

“…Neiswender and Blaustein [59] were the first to introduce an energy related dose factor that allowed for a better comparing between different plasma conditions. Yasuda adopted and improved this model to what is known today as the Yasuda factor [60,61]. The Yasuda factor itself is a combination of the reactor geometry ( ) and the normalised binding energy of the monomer ( ) [62].…”