Long Term Effects of Air Dielectric Barrier Discharge Treatment on the Surface Properties of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA)

Abstract

This paper discusses the long term effects of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) treatment on the surface properties of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) film. The EVA surface was characterised using contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and 180° peel tests. EVA subjected to two different treatment times was compared to as-received and solvent cleaned film. The long term stability of the surface modification induced by the DBD treatment was studied over a period of 466 days. On initial application of DBD treatment to the EVA surface an increased wettability was observed, evident from a decreased water contact angle, improved peel strength when bonded, and an increased level of carbon–oxygen moieties measured using XPS. However, over the storage period of 466 days the material reverted to almost its original state with the contact angle being only ∼3° lower than that of as-received EVA compared to a difference ∼25° directly after treatment. AFM measurements showed that the treatment had a slight smoothing effect on the surface topography.