Abstract
The objectives of this study are to investigate the effects of an inductively coupled CO 2-plasma treatment on two biodegradable PLA and PHBV films and to confirm the possibility of improving the degradation properties in variety of solutions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and contact angle measurement were employed to analyze the surface chemical states and to observe specific chemical changes on the surfaces. To study biodegradation, three acidic, neutral, and basic solutions were prepared, respectively. After the plasma treatment and the degradation test, scanning electron microscopy was also employed to observe the surface morphologies of the films. In conclusion, the exposure of the polymer surfaces to CO 2-plasma could encourage the formation of polar groups and oxidation on the surfaces, thereby increasing the roughness, wettability, and degradability of the surfaces.
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