Surface modification of plasma‐pretreated expanded poly (tetrafluroethylene) films by graft copolymerization

Abstract

A two‐step process based on a low‐pressure helium plasma treatment followed by acrylic acid‐grafting copolymerization was used for the surface modification of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) films. The effects of plasma treatment power and treatment time on the hydrophilicity of the film surface were investigated. The wettability of the ePTFE film surface was characterized by water contact angle, and the surface compositions of the untreated and treated ePTFE samples were evaluated by atomic force microscopy and XPS. Contact angle measurements revealed that the hydrophilicity of the ePTFE film surface was greatly enhanced by the combined actions of the plasma treatment and acrylic acid grafting, and the contact angle decreased from 145° to 66°. Atomic force microscopy analyses showed that the surface roughness increased after the plasma treatment. XPS analyses showed substantial increase in the concentration of carbon and oxygen atoms and a decrease in the concentration of fluorine atoms at the film surface. T‐peel strength showed an improved bonding strength between the film and an adhesive tape after the treatment. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.