Synthesis and Surface Characterization of PMMA Polymer Films in Pure Oxygen, Argon, and Nitrogen Glow Discharge Plasma

Abstract

The anticorrosion effect and biocompatibility property of Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) materials have been used in a variety of commercially available products and medical devices for many years. In this work, the treatment of surfaces prepared PMMA films by oxygen, argon and nitrogen plasma, requires understanding the effect of low energy ions on the surface modification of the film of PMMA. Due to this, the samples of prepared PMMA were exposed to three different gases at the same discharge conditions. Changes within the morphology and surface hydrophilicity of the treated samples were characterized by optical microscope images and the measurements of contact angle. Treatment of PMMA with O2, N2, Ar gases displayed a decreasing in the contact angle that results in increasing surface free energy. Oxygen –plasma treatment of PMMA films leads to high aspect ratio topography, with increased roughness for (5-30) minute process durations.

From Basics to Frontiers: A Comprehensive Review of Plasma-Modified and Plasma-Synthesized Polymer Films

“…-O 2 plasmas increase the levels of oxygen-containing functional groups such as hydroxyl (-OH), carbonyl (-C=O) and carboxyl (-COOH) to improve the wettability of polymers such as PE, polyurethane, vinyl-trimethoxysilane-grafted ethylene-propylene and PMMA [94][95][96][97]. Interestingly, oxygen plasma can also selectively erode the organic component of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMSO)-like films applied to hydrophobic polymers, leading to the creation of a hydrophilic surface [98].…”