Surface modification of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) by a low-temperature cascade arc torch and radio-frequency plasmas
✍ Scribed by Q. S. Yu; C. M. Reddy; M. F. Meives; H. K. Yasuda
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1999
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 341 KB
- Volume
- 37
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0887-624X
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✦ Synopsis
Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) films were treated with a low-temperature cascade arc torch (LTCAT) and radio-frequency (RF) plasmas of argon and hydrogen. The plasma-treatment effect on the PTFE surface was studied with contact-angle measurement and scanning electron spectroscopy (SEM). LTCAT argon plasma, which is recognized as a beam of excited argon neutrals, was very efficient at improving the surface hydrophilicity of PTFE. For both the LTCAT and RF operation, argon plasma was more effective at modifying the surface wettability of PTFE films than hydrogen plasma was. Furthermore, the sample positions (inside or beyond the glow region) had a strong impact on the efficiency of the plasma treatment. SEM surface images indicated that no significant morphology change was induced on the PTFE films exposed to a LTCAT and RF argon plasmas.