Surface modification of polymer surfaces: atmospheric plasma versus vacuum plasma treatments

• Published in: Journal of physics. D, Applied physics Applied physics, 2001-09, Vol.34 (18), p.2761-2768
• Main Authors: Shenton, M J, Stevens, G C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-3727; 1361-6463
• DOI: 10.1088/0022-3727/34/18/308

An atmospheric pressure nonequilibrium plasma (APNEP) has been developed in the UK by EA Technology Ltd. and is currently being investigated in collaboration with the University of Surrey. The main focus is the use of atmospheric pressure plasmas to modify the surfaces of commercially important polymers including polyolefins, poly(ethylene terephthalate), and poly(methyl methacrylate). These surface modifications include surface cleaning and degreasing, oxidation, reduction, grafting, cross-linking (carbonization), etching, and deposition. When trying to achieve targeted surface engineering, it is vital to gain an understanding of the mechanisms that cause these effects, for example, surface functionalization, adhesion promotion, or multi-layer deposition. Hence, comparisons between vacuum plasma treated surfaces have also been sought with a view to using the extensive vacuum plasma literature to gain further insight. In this paper, we introduce the APNEP and compare the key characteristics of the plasma with those of traditional vacuum plasma systems before highlighting some of the surface modifications that can be achieved by using atmospheric plasma. (Author)