Plasma Processing Of Polymers

Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Plasma Treatments and Deposition of Polymers, Acquafredda di Maratea, Italy, May 19-June 2, 1996

This volume compiles essential contributions to the most innovative fields of Plasma Processes and Polymers. High-quality contributions cover the fields of plasma deposition, plasma treatment of polymers and other organic compounds, plasma processes under partial vacuum and at atmospheric pressure, biomedical, textile, automotive, and optical applications as well as surface treatment of bulk materials, clusters, particles and powders. This unique collection of refereed papers is based on the best contributions presented at the 16th International Symposium on Plasma Chemistry in Taormina, Italy (ISPC-16, June 2003). A high class reference of relevance to a large audience in plasma community as well as in the area of its industrial applications.

Plasma Deposition, Treatment, and Etching of Polymers takes a broad look at the basic principles, the chemical processes, and the diagnostic procedures in the interaction of plasmas with polymer surfaces. This recent technology has yielded a large class of new materials offering many applications, including their use as coatings for chemical fibers and films. Additional applications include uses for the passivation of metals, the surface hardening of tools, increased biocompatibility of biomedical materials, chemical and physical sensors, and a variety of micro- and optoelectronic devices. Appeals to a broad range of industries from microelectronics to space technology Discusses a wide array of new uses for plasma polymers Provides a tutorial introduction to the field Surveys various classes of plasma polymers, their chemical and morphological properties, effects of plasma process parameters on the growth and structure of these synthetic materials, and techniques for characterization Interests scientists, engineers, and students alike

This book addresses plasma modification of polyolefin surfaces. It comprises 21 chapters divided into three major sections. The first section covers the different techniques used for plasma modification of polyolefin surfaces and the effects of various gases as a surrounding medium, while the second provides a detailed analysis of the physics and chemistry of plasma modification and discusses various innovative characterization techniques, as well as ageing of the modified surface. It focuses on the analysis of changes in polymers’ surface chemistry using various spectroscopic techniques, and of changes in their surface morphology after plasma treatment using optical microscopy, electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. In addition, it provides detailed information on the characterization of modified polymer surfaces. The book’s third and last section covers a range of applications of plasma-modified polyolefin surfaces varying from the packaging industry to the biomedical field, and shares valuable insights on the lifecycle analysis of plasma modification and modified surfaces.

The aim of this book is to show how to make useful plasma polymerization processes resulting in polymeric (organic) materials - usually thin films of the desirable properties. The main emphasis is on the detailed discussion of the deposition apparatus, deposition parameters and properties of the obtained films. The historical background and the processes related to plasma polymerization are discussed. Fundamentals of plasma physics and plasma chemistry are concisely reviewed and used as a base for the explanation of plasma polymerization principles and its models. Special attention is devoted to the real plasma polymerization reactors and various polymer film deposition arrangements. Many technical details are examined including the influence of process parameters on the properties of the resulting plasma polymers. New systems based on a microwave discharge are also described. The properties of the most important plasma polymers - plasma polymerized organosilicons, halocarbons and composite metal/plasma polymers are reviewed. Finally, the applications of plasma polymers are presented, e.g. for passivation and protective coatings, lithography and optical beam recording, electrophotography, microelectronics, modifications of conventional polymer surfaces - biomedical uses, membranes, etc. Future prospects and developments in plasma polymerization e.g. for molecular electronics and other areas are also outlined.

NONTHERMAL PLASMAS FOR MATERIALS PROCESSING This unique book covers the physical and chemical aspects of plasma chemistry with polymers and gives new insights into the interaction of physics and chemistry of nonthermal plasmas and their applications in materials science for physicists and chemists. The properties and characteristics of plasmas, elementary (collision) processes in the gas phase, plasma surface interactions, gas discharge plasmas and technical plasma sources, atmospheric plasmas, plasma diagnostics, polymers and plasmas, plasma polymerization, post-plasma processes, plasma, and wet-chemical processing, plasma-induced generation of functional groups, and the chemical reactions on these groups along with a few exemplary applications are discussed in this comprehensive but condensed state-of-the-art book on plasma chemistry and its dependence on plasma physics. While plasma physics, plasma chemistry, and polymer science are often handled separately, the aim of the authors is to harmoniously join the physics and chemistry of low-pressure and atmospheric-pressure plasmas with polymer surface chemistry and polymerization and to compare such chemistry with classic chemistry. Readers will find in these chapters Interaction of plasma physics and chemistry in plasmas and at the surface of polymers; Explanation and interpretation of physical and chemical mechanisms on plasma polymerization and polymer surface modification; Introduction of modern techniques in plasma diagnostics, surface analysis of solids, and special behavior of polymers on exposure to plasmas; Discussion of the conflict of energy-rich plasma species with permanent energy supply and the much lower binding energies in polymers and alternatives to avoid random polymer decomposition Technical applications such as adhesion, cleaning, wettability, textile modification, coatings, films, etc. New perspectives are explained about how to use selective and mild processes to allow post-plasma chemistry on non-degraded polymer surfaces. Audience Physicists, polymer chemists, materials scientists, industrial engineers in biomedicine, coatings, printing, etc.

Plasma Polymer Films examines the current status of the deposition and characterization of fluorocarbon-, hydrocarbon- and silicon-containing plasma polymer films and nanocomposites, with plasma polymer matrix. It introduces plasma polymerization process diagnostics such as optical emission spectroscopy (OES, AOES), and describes special deposition techniques such as atmospheric pressure glow discharge. Important issues for applications such as degradation and stability are treated in detail, and structural characterization, basic electrical and optical properties and biomedical applications are discussed. Contents: Plasma Deposition of Fluoropolymer Films in Different Glow Discharge Regimes (P Favia)Deposition of Silicon Containing Films and FTIR Diagnostics (Y Segui & P Raynaud)Corpuscular Diagnostics of Plasma Polymerization Process (M Zeuner)Electrical and Optical Properties of Plasma Polymers (J Tyczkowski)Pulsed Plasma Polymerizations (R B Timmons & A J Griggs)Degradation and Stability of Plasma Polymers (A Holländer & J Thome)Application of Atmospheric Pressure Discharge for Plasma Polymer Processes (M Kogoma)Hard Plasma Polymers, Composites and Plasma Polymer Films Prepared by RF Sputtering of Conventional Polymers (H Biederman et al.)Biomedical Applications of Plasma-Deposited Thin Films (K J Kitching et al.) Readership: Graduate students and researchers in plasma, polymer and surface chemistry. Keywords:Plasma Polymerization;Fluoropolymers;Biomedical Applications;Process Diagnostics

An indispensable volume detailing the current and potential applications of atmospheric pressure plasma treatment by experts practicing in fields around the world Polymers are used in a wide variety of industries to fabricate legions of products because of their many desirable traits. However, polymers in general (and polyolefins, in particular) are innately not very adhesionable because of the absence of polar or reactive groups on their surfaces and concomitant low surface energy. Surface treatment of polymers, however, is essential to impart reactive chemical groups on their surfaces to enhance their adhesion characteristic. Proper surface treatment can endow polymers with improved adhesion without affecting the bulk properties. A plethora of techniques (ranging from wet to dry, simple to sophisticated, vacuum to non-vacuum) for polymer surface modification have been documented in the literature but the Atmospheric Pressure Plasma (APP) treatment has attracted much attention because it offers many advantages vis-a-vis other techniques, namely uniform treatment, continuous operation, no need for vacuum, simplicity, low cost, no environmental or disposal concern, and applicability to large area samples. Although the emphasis in this book is on the utility of APP treatment for enhancement of polymer adhesion, APP is also applicable and effective to modulate many other surface properties of polymers: superhydrophilicity, superhydrophobicity, anti-fouling, anti-fogging, anti-icing, cell adhesion, biocompatibility, tribological behavior, etc. The key features of Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Treatment of Polymers: Address design and functions of various types of reactors Bring out current and potential applications of APP treatment Represent the cumulative wisdom of many key academic and industry researchers actively engaged in this key and enabling technology