Surface modification of polypropylene under argon and oxygen-RF-plasma conditions

Polypropylene fabrics samples were surface functionalized under Ar and O2 RF plasma conditions. Survey and high resolution photoelectron spectroscopy and attenuated total reflectance FTIR comparative evaluation of virgin and plasma treated substrat surfaces, and their pentafluorophenyl hydrazine-derivatized correspondents, indicate that both Ar and O2-discharge treated PP surfaces undergo intense oxidation. C=O, O−C=O, and C−O linkages were identified on both inert and reactive gas plasma exposed surfaces. It was found that the relative surface atomic concentrations and the relative ratios of newly created functionalities are controlled by the external plasma parameters (RF power and treatment time). The oxidation of Ar-plasma treated surfaces has been related toex situ post plasma mechanisms. Dynamic contact angle measurements from unmodified and plasma exposed substrates demonstrated the presence of increased surface polarity, and its dependence on plasma parameters. AFM evaluations of plasma treated samples indicate the presence of rough surface morphologies.