Abstract
The low ion energy argon plasma was used for surface modification of Poly tetra fluoroethylene (PTFE) polymer. The plasma was generated between two plane metal electrode by using 50 kHz bipolar power supply. The plasma treated surface was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The surface free energy (SFE) of plasma treated surface was calculated from contact angle measurement. SFE increases from 33.39 mJ/m2 to 41.40 mJ/m2 with the increase in plasma treatment time and the corresponding contact angle changed from 76? to 60?. XPS study shows that F/C ratio change from 1.8 (untreated) to 1.3 (treated) and O/C ratio changes from 0.094 (untreated) to 0.148 (treated). The XPS analysis shows that both F1s and the C1s spectra for PTFE are marginally modified by plasma treatment. AFM study shows that the average surface roughness (Ra) increased from 8.5 nm to 22.8 nm after plasma treatment. Vicker’s micro hardness of the film increases upon plasma treatment. The increase in SFE after plasma treatment is attributed to the functionalization of the polymer surface with hydrophilic groups as supported from the above observations.
Highlights
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a polymer used as insulator in cables, connector assemblies and for printed circuit boards because of its good dielectric properties [1]
The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis shows that both F1s and the C1s spectra for Poly tetra fluoroethylene (PTFE) are marginally modified by plasma treatment
We present a study on surface modification of PTFE film by a bipolar argon plasma treatment
Summary
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a polymer used as insulator in cables, connector assemblies and for printed circuit boards because of its good dielectric properties [1]. The best method for modifying the surface properties of materials is the plasma treatment. The plasma treatment can affect only the first few nanometers of material without changing the bulk properties [7]. It can cause chemical bonding of oxygen atoms at active sites on the polymer surface, leading to formation of various functional groups that modify the surface wettability. Type of a functional group on a polymer surface. It is necessary to apply such plasma that facilitates formation of the functional groups that are most important for a given application. The increase in treatment times used for surface modification of polymers causes oxidation, removal of surface contaminants and improving of surface wettability. The surface properties of PTFE such as surface free energy, morphology, chemical composition, micro hardness and adhesion were investigated
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