Polymer Films With Enhanced Surface Energy

摘要

Polymer films with low-surface energy are used in several packaging and shielding applications. When these polymer films are used in the printing and painting application sector, the low-surface energy becomes a major draw back. So there is a need to subject the surface area of the polymer films to plasma activation treatment. This treatment results in the formation of polymer films with enhanced surface energy.A research group headed by Yu Akishev, at the State Research Center Troitsk Institute for Innovation and Fusion Research, Moscow, carried out a research work based on the implementation of atmospheric plasma treatment to enhance the surface energy of polymer films by plasma treatment and modifying them. The researchers initiated atmospheric pressure plasma treatment to modify the surface energy of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymers. The treatment was carried out at ambient temperature and in the presence of pure nitrogen gas. The nitrogen gas helps in the synthesis of gases that help in the formation of the plasma fluid. The researchers measured the water contact angle of the polymer films followed by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which helps in characterizing different oxidation states of the surface-treated polymer films. The researchers compared the experimental and theoretical results of PP-polymers formed due to oxygen enrichment process.