Modifying Inner Surface of a PET Bottle by Plasma-Based Ion Implantation

Abstract

AbstractIn order to improve the gas barrier characteristics of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) we have carried out two experiments; a preliminary experiment using film samples and an applied experiment to modifying inner surfaces of bottles. The measurements of film samples by both ATR FT-IR (Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared) spectroscopy and Laser Raman spectroscopy show that most PET molecules in the near surface volume are destroyed and amorphized by ion implantation. Gas permeability of the sample is also measured. For applying PBII (Plasma Based Ion Implantation) to bottles we develop a new technique to implant ions onto the inner surfaces while plasma is generated inside the bottle. An electrode that is supplied with positive high-voltage pulses differently from negative ones as in the preliminary experiment is inserted into the bottle. The inner surface of the PET bottle is investigated by both ATR FT-IR spectroscopy and Laser Raman spectroscopy, too.