Surface modification and evaluation of some commonly used catheter materials. I. Surface properties

Abstract

Double catheter systems consisting of a stiff outer catheter and a flexible, buoyant, flow-directed, inner catheter which is often balloon-tipped have been employed with increasing frequency recently in both therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. Their use, however, has been restricted because of the excessive friction generated between the two catheters. In an attempt to decrease friction between polymers commonly used as catheter materials, oxidation of polyethylene, fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer, poly(vinyl chloride), silicone rubber, and polystyrene surfaces was induced by exposing the polymers to radio frequency glow discharge (RFGD) in a helium environment. All polymers were surface characterized utilizing x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and contact angle measurements before and after oxidation. This article describes the materials and methods used to fabricate and characterize the polymer surfaces and the results of the characterization. The results indicate that increases in oxygen concentration at the surface of the polymers and decreases in air-water contact angles occur with increased RFGD exposure time. Plateau values were usually obtained after 5-30 s exposure time, yet no apparent changes in surface topography were noted by scanning electron microscopy. The hydrophilic surfaces produced were stable for up to three months storage time in air.

Hydrophobic recovery of repeatedly plasma-treated silicone rubber. Part 2. A comparison of the hydrophobic recovery in air, water, or liquid nitrogen

“…However, because plasma-treated surfaces are frequently far from stable, the surface hydrophilicity created by the plasma treatment is often lost over time [2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. This so-called 'hydrophobic recovery' is caused, amongst others [2][3][4][8][9][10][11], by the *To whom correspondence should be addressed. mobility and reorientation of polymer chains in the treated surface layer.…”

“…The inherently high hydrophobicity of silicone polymers limits certain applications of these materials, despite their favorable mechanical properties [8,12]. Plasma treatment of silicone polymers [7][8][9][12][13][14][15] may affect their hydrophobicity and thereby their bondability to other materials, without affecting the bulk properties.…”

Wettability and Other Surface Properties of Modified Polymers

“…The plasma modification of polymers is very often used in surface cleaning or etching [52], changes in surface wettability and adhesion [53], reducing friction [54], or regulation of the cell adhesion in cytocompatibility studies [55]. The creation of the polar groups on the modified surface reaction by the reaction of activated polymer surface with gas atmosphere leads to the augmentation of adhesion, increasing hydrophilicity, or modifying the surface morphology (Fig.…”

Effect of Surface Plasma Treatments on the Adhesion of Mars JSC 1 Simulant Dust to RTV 655, RTV 615, and Sylgard 184

“…Surface modification of non-conducting polymers such as silicone rubber with plasma treatment is a commonly practiced and well-studied area [20], [21], [22], [23], [24], [25], [26], [27], [28], [29], [30], [31], [32]. Various gases such as argon [20], [21], [22], nitrogen [20], [21], and oxygen [20], [21] have been used for the modification process and the choice of the gas used to create the plasma depends on the specific application and desired outcomes.…”