Permanent hydrophilization of outer and inner surfaces of polytetrafluoroethylene tubes using ambient air plasma generated by surface dielectric barrier discharges

Abstract

We present an atmospheric pressure ambient air plasma technique developed for technically simple treatment of inner and/or outer surfaces of plastic tubes and other hollow dielectric bodies. It is based on surface dielectric barrier discharge generating visually diffuse plasma layers along the treated dielectric surfaces using water-solution electrodes. The observed visual uniformity and measured plasma rotational and vibrational temperatures of 333 K and 2350 K indicate that the discharge can be readily applied to material surface treatment without significant thermal effect. This is exemplified by the obtained permanent surface hydrophilization of polytetrafluoroethylene tubes related to the replacement of a high fraction (more than 80%) of the surface fluorine determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A tentative explanation of the discharge mechanism based on high-speed camera observations and the discharge current and voltage of measurements is outlined.

Hydrophilization of outer and inner surfaces of Poly(vinyl chloride) tubes using surface dielectric barrier discharges generated in ambient air plasma

“…Similarly as in, we can explain the formation of such plasma due to extremely high electric field generated in our case by the triple point effect at the common line between air, solution surface and PVC surface. It is also assumed that complementary processes contributing to the diffuse appearance of a significant part of discharge plasma can be the discharge resistive stabilization by water electrodes, fast movement of the microdischarges similar to that observed in diffuse coplanar surface barrier discharges (DCSBDs) and the airflow induced by the discharge itself …”

“…Recently, a technique for the plasma generation combining the basic features of the discharges generated in contact with water or other liquids with surface dielectric barrier discharges (SDBDs) by using water‐solutions as the discharge electrodes was developed both for the water remediation and plasma activations of hollow body surfaces …”

Design and evaluation of plasma polymer deposition on hollow objects by electrical plasma generated from the liquid surface

“…Combining the basic features of discharges generated in contact with water with SDBDs by using water‐solutions as the discharge electrodes, we have designed a new type of SDBD generating thin layers of plasma which propagate along the treated polymer surfaces. The technique was aimed to achieve uniform atmospheric pressure plasma treatment of inner and/or outer surfaces of polymeric tubes and other hollow dielectric bodies .…”

Dielectric barrier discharge generated from the liquid electrolyte

“…We have developed a novel type of surface dielectric barrier discharge generating thin layers of visually diffuse plasmas along the treated polzmer polymer using water-based electrolyte as a electrodes [1]. This technique has been designed particularly to achieve uniform treatment of outer or inner suface of polymeric tubes and other hollow bodies (e.g.…”

“…The water plasmas generated by atmospheric discharges have already demonstrated their potencial also for surface modification of polymer materials [1][2][3][4] and are emerging as a very flexible concept to generate selective functionalized polymer surface [3]. We have developed a novel type of surface dielectric barrier discharge generating thin layers of visually diffuse plasmas along the treated polzmer polymer using water-based electrolyte as a electrodes [1].…”