On the influence of atmospheric pressure plasma treatment on polyethylene terephthalate glycol filaments for 3D printing

Abstract

Polymers are crucial in a variety of industries; nevertheless, surface modification is required for particular applications. Non-thermal plasma exposure is a viable and environmentally friendly option. Fused deposition molding employs polyethylene terephthalate glycol, but has limits in biomedical applications due to poor mechanical characteristics. This study investigates how atmospheric pressure plasma created by a dielectric barrier discharge system using helium and/or argon affects the modification of polyethylene terephthalate glycol surfaces, variations in wettability properties, and chemical composition alterations. The plasma source was ignited with either helium or argon and the operating conditions were optimized for polymer exposure. The study found that plasma treatment increased polymer surface wettability by up to 30% in helium and 40% in argon. The plasma treatments altered the surface topography, morphology, roughness, and hydrophilicity. After plasma treatment, the material’s mechanical characteristics underwent soft change. Plasma exposure resulted in notable changes in dielectric characteristics, phase transitions, and structure. The experimental results justify the use of atmospheric pressure plasma technologies for environmentally friendly polymer material processing, particularly for applications that require enhanced adhesion and unique criteria.