Hydrophilization and hydrophobic recovery of polymers treated by 50 Hz argon plasma

Abstract

50 Hz argon glow discharge plasma was used to treat the surface of polycarbonate (PC) and polypropylene (PP). These materials were treated for 10 min under low pressure of 0.3 mbar. Static water contact angle measurement showed there was a decrease in the contact angle on the surfaces of polymers after plasma treatment. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) test showed that the enhancement in wettability for PC and PP surfaces were due to oxidation of their surfaces by plasma. Ageing effect was monitored up to Day 5, and the plasma treated polymeric surfaces were found to revert to close to the original water contact angle of the untreated state at a faster rate for PP.