The Plasma Chemistry of Polymer Surfaces

In Situ Generation of Plasma-Polymer Standards by Plasma Assisted Free Radical Polymerization

“…As routinely implemented for the analysis of polydisperse polymers which notoriously provide biased results during direct MS analyses, the (off/on‐line) coupling of SEC and MALDI‐MS analyses was proposed here to gain a better insight into the molecular composition of the oily deposit. While SEC was already described as a powerful tool for the analysis of plasma modified polymer surfaces and plasma‐polymers, to the best of our knowledge it is the first time a SEC‐MS coupling is proposed for the analysis of plasma‐polymers. As readily evidenced in the mass spectra of fractions #1 to #4 depicted in Figure b, the sample contains high molecular weight poly(lauryl acrylate) chains (Mp 31 000 Da, i.e., a 130‐mer for the first fraction), giving evidence of a free radical polymerization to occur, with the production of long chains, in opposition to the conclusions of the rare MS studies performed on plasma‐polymers and especially on this precursor (See the concluding remarks about the 20‐mer limit).…”

Plasma Polymer Deposition and Coatings on Polymers

“…For this purpose, understanding of both the behavior of polymers in plasmas and plasma polymer formation is required (75). While polymers possess a broad range of excellent bulk characteristics (such as light weight, flexibility, machinability, and costs), some missing properties (such as reactive functional groups, stability, barrier effect, and electrical conductivity) might be added by plasma coatings.…”

“…Short plasma exposure times (around 1 s) might avoid degradation effects and are already sufficient for the generation of free radicals at the surface (via H abstraction), while cross-linking requires longer treatment times (several seconds to minutes) (75). Coatings are thus subject to film failure.…”

Contact Angle Decay Model to Study Plasma Afterglow Activation of Polymers

“…[24] During the first process the surface topmost layer is activated through the introduction of oxygen containing groups. The simultaneously occurring second process leads to a functionalization of deeper polymer layers, accessed by UV irradiation, etching and oxygen diffusion into the bulk.…”