Glow Discharge Polymerization of Tetrafluoroethylene, 1,1 Difluoroethylene, and Chlorotrifluoroethylene

Abstract

Thin polymer films were prepared by electrodeless glow discharge polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene , 1,1 difluoroethylene , and phlorotrifluoroethylene monomers. The chemical composition of the films prepared both in and out of the glow discharge region was measured by x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and compared to bulk polymer standards. The glow discharge polymers exhibit a complex carbon 1s XPS spectrum as compared to the bulk standards. A minimum of four bonding states for carbon is clearly seen, with relatively high concentrations of, , in addition to . The polymer surface composition is clearly dependent on position with respect to the discharge region. The bond assignments are in close agreement with a simple electrostatic model. Polymer surface tensions were obtained using the concepts of critical surface tension and dispersion forces. They correlated well with the concentration of , on the surface as measured by XPS. The porosity of the films is shown to be significantly less than metal coatings of similar thickness.