Influence of ECR-RF plasma modification on surface and thermal properties of polyester copolymer

• Published in: Polish journal of chemical technology 2015-12, Vol.17 (4), p.115-119
• Main Authors: Fray, Miroslawa El, Willert-Porada, Monika
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: copolymers; differential scanning calorimetry; fatty acid; scanning electron microscopy; water contact angle
• ISSN: 1899-4741; 1509-8117; 1899-4741
• DOI: 10.1515/pjct-2015-0077

In this paper we report a study on influence of radio-frequency (RF) plasma induced with electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) on multiblock copolymer containing butylene terephthalate hard segments (PBT) and butylene dilinoleate (BDLA) soft segments. The changes in thermal properties were studied by DSC. The changes in wettability of PBT-BDLA surfaces were studied by water contact angle (WCA). We found that ECR-RF plasma surface treatment for 60 s led to decrease of WCA, while prolonged exposure of plasma led to increase of WCA after N and N treatment up to 70°–80°. The O reduced the WCA to 50°–56°. IR measurements confirmed that the N plasma led to formation of polar groups. SEM investigations showed that plasma treatment led to minor surfaces changes. Collectively, plasma treatment, especially O , induced surface hydrophilicity what could be beneficial for increased cell adhesion in future biomedical applications of these materials.