Local Analysis of Pet Surface Functionalization by an Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet

Abstract

In this work, space-resolved analysis of polyethylene terephthalate surface functionalization induced by an atmospheric pressure argon plasma jet has been conducted. In particular, the plasma jet footprint has been determined by examining radial water contact angle profiles. For the first time, space-resolved X-ray photoelectron measurements have also been carried out and have been correlated with the results of the water contact angle profiles. Different plasma treatment conditions, like discharge power, exposure time, sample distance and gas flow, have been varied to observe their effect on the plasma jet radial profiles. From this investigation, it has become clear that variations in exposure time and sample distance can strongly influence the radial hydrophilic region, while changes in gas flow rate and discharge power only result in small differences. Figure 4. Optical emission spectra at different distances from the center of the plasma jet on PET surface. Treatment parameters: distance between the bottom of the grounded electrode and sample -22 mm, power -4.0 W, gas flow -1 slm.

Evolution of the Surface Wettability of PET Polymer upon Treatment with an Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma Jet

“…Understanding the reaction mechanisms requires basic knowledge on reactive gaseous species and detailed two-dimensional mapping of the surface wettability at various treatment conditions. A brief study on the influence of the distance between the dielectric tube and the sample, the exposure time, the discharge power and the gas flow rate was already disclosed by Onyshchenko et al [29,30]. Because there are numerous variable parameters, it is not feasible to vary all of them like the type of gas, the concentration of any additional gases, including impurities, the discharge power, intensity of electrical field, the gas flow and velocity gradients, the distance between a sample and the jet tip, influence of any conductivity of the substrate etc.…”

“…Onyshchenko et al [29] performed a two-dimensional mapping of both water contact angle and oxygen concentration on the surface of PET polymer after treatment with the atmospheric pressure plasma jet sustained in high-purity argon. Numerous parameters were varied to estimate the influence of the plasma treatment on the surface composition and wettability: The distance between the dielectric tube and the sample, the exposure time, the discharge power and the gas flow rate.…”

Atmospheric pressure plasma activation of PP films with a localized μplasma

“…This set-up therefore fits well into the range of new plasma technologies that mainly focus on equipment working at atmospheric pressure as a continuous procedure with no need of vacuum pumping system [19,20].…”

Distinct modes in the evolution of interaction between polymer film and atmospheric pressure plasma jet

“…Recently, there is an increasing interest in the applications of atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) for material processing, including film etching, surface modification, and plasma jet printing on flexible substrate . The plasma and surface interactions play important role in plasma characteristics and surface properties.…”

“…Different kinds of polymer films, such as photoresist, polyimide, parylene‐C, etc, are widely used in the field of micro‐electro mechanical systems (MEMS), and biomedicine . In the application and micromaching of these polymer materials, films are usually spin coated or deposited on different substrates, such as conductive, semiconductive or dielectric materials . As a result, the influence of polymer films with different substrates will also affect the plasma characteristics and the treated films.…”