Treatment of Polymer Surfaces with Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasmas

Due to ongoing improvements in polymer-based materials, they are being used in an increasingly wider range of applications. In addition to special bulk physical properties, specific surface properties are often required in particular applications. However, common polymers very often do not possess the desired surface properties. Several...

Local plasma deposition on polymer components

For the modification of the surface energy of polymers, organosilicon coatings provide good optical and mechanical properties and are excellent candidates for the modification of the surface energy of polymers. These coatings can be deposited by plasma polymerization of hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) under atmospheric pressure and at room...

Integrated shaping and finishing of polymer components

Integration of multiple functions in single components is pursued in order to manufacture at less cost smaller and smarter polymer micro devices. A method to achieve this is surface activation, i.e. fully or patterned changing of the surface properties. Examples are moulded interconnect devices with conductive surface tracks and lab-on-chip...

The influence of surface DBD plasma treatment on the adhesion of coatings to high-tech textiles

The surface of high-performance poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers is difficult to wet and impossible to chemically bond to different matrices. Sizing applied on the fiber surface usually improves fiber wetting, but prevents good adhesion between a matrix and the fiber surface. The present study demonstrates that the plasma treatment...

Lithographic patterning of metals on flexible plastic foils

In this paper the challenges of patterning electrodes with separations in the micron and sub-micron range onto thin polyethylene naphthalate foils for use in biochips are discussed. It was found that it was necessary to improve the adhesion of the metal electrodes to the foil by using plasma treatment and/or an adhesion layer, and a quantitative...

Fluorination of poly(dimethylsiloxane) surfaces by low pressure CF4 plasma: Physicochemical and antifouling properties

Fluorinated surface groups were introduced into poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) coatings by plasma treatment using a low pressure radio frequency discharge operated with tetrafluoromethane. Substrates were placed in a remote position downstream the discharge. Discharge power and treatment time were tuned to alter the chemical composition of the...

Adhesion strength study between plasma treated polyester fibres and a rubber matrix

In this work, the adhesion strength between poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibres and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) was studied. The effects of atmospheric plasma treatment, used to increase adhesion strength between PET fibres and the rubber matrix, were investigated and compared. It was confirmed that lubricants on the fibres caused a...