Abstract
Main aim of this study was focused on characterization of the effect of microwave air plasma treatment on wettability of synthetic polymer surfaces. Wettability of solid polymer surfaces polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene (PE, PP, PS) was followed as a function of plasma treatment time. For evaluation the equilibrium contact angles of wetting as well as dynamic contact angles of wetting were determined by means of sessile drop and Wilhelmy plate methods. Free surface energy (SFE) of studied samples were calculated from the experimentally determined contact angles using Fowkes and van Oss, Chaudhury and Good (vOCG) approaches. It was found that with prolonged treatment time the total surface free energy of PE was two times increased from 23 mJ/m2 to 45 mJ/m2 after 360 s plasma treatment time (calculated for W and EG as wetting liquids). Similar effect was found for all studied polymers. With respect to the dispersive and polar components of the total surface free energy the vigorous effect was found for polar component, for which it was increased from 7 mJ/m2 to 20 mJ/m2.
Highlights
The interfacial properties of polymer materials are important in many technological processes such as polymer blending, wetting, coating, and the reinforcement of polymers with fibres
It was found that with prolonged treatment time the total surface free energy of PE was two times increased from 23 mJ/m2 to 45 mJ/m2 after 360 s plasma treatment time
With respect to the dispersive and polar components of the total surface free energy the vigorous effect was found for polar component, for which it was increased from 7 mJ/m2 to 20 mJ/m2
Summary
The interfacial properties of polymer materials are important in many technological processes such as polymer blending, wetting, coating, and the reinforcement of polymers with fibres. These are as a result of the complex synergistic effect of surface morphology, topology and chemical composition and homogeneity. The latter parameters are affected both by nano-, micro- and macroscopic structural hierarchy of the surface layer arrangement. The surface tension on the interfaces is a very important parameter in basic physical chemistry of surfaces and in many areas of applied science and technology. It is used to improve printability, wettability, bondability, biocompatibility, surface hardness, and surface heat resistance etc [4]
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