Plasma nitrogenation of polymer surfaces with a new type of combinatorial plasma‐printing reactor

• Published in: Plasma processes and polymers 2017-08, Vol.14 (8), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Kotula, Stefan, Lüdemann, Maik, Philipp, Jens, Thomas, Michael, Klages, Claus‐Peter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Admixtures; Atmospheric pressure; ATR FT‐IR; Combinatorial analysis; derivatization; dielectric barrier discharges (DBD); Functional groups; Gas flow; Gases; Inlets (topography); Ions; Nitrogenation; Plasma; plasma treatment; Plasmas (physics); Polymers; Printing; Surface properties; TFBA
• ISSN: 1612-8850; 1612-8869
• DOI: 10.1002/ppap.201600137

A new method for combinatorial area‐selective polymer modification or deposition using DBD‐type plasmas at atmospheric pressure (“plasma‐printing”) is presented. Thereby a gradient of two gases perpendicular to the flow direction is established by triangular‐shaped overlapping gas inlets. Design of this reactor allows generation of spot arrays with controlled gradients of physicochemical surface properties which is first applied by investigating the influence of H2 admixtures to N2‐plasma‐treatment of polymers. Formation of functional groups is quantitatively characterized by ATR FT‐IR with preceding chemical derivatization using nucleophilic and electrophilic chemicals. It is shown that treatments using high gas flow velocities are more efficient than treatments with low gas speed. Also it is shown that direct plasma treatment leads to polymer surfaces with nucleophilic and electrophilic properties and that H2 content influences formation of both types of functionalities. The influence of H2 content on atmospheric‐pressure plasma nitrogenation of polymers is investigated with a newly developed DBD‐type plasma‐printing reactor. ATR FT‐IR with preceding chemical derivatization using nucleophilic and electrophilic reagents is used for quantitative characterization of the surfaces. It is shown that these surfaces react with both types of chemicals and that hydrogen admixtures influence both electrophilic and nucleophilic reactivity.