Remote nitrogen plasma treatment of polymers: Polyethylene, nylon 6,6, poly(ethylene vinyl alcohol), and poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Abstract

Abstract A remote nitrogen plasma has been used for the rapid attachment of nitrogen to linear low density polyethylene, nylon 6,6, poly(ethylene vinyl alcohol), and poly(ethylene terephthalate). Analysis was performed using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy to investigate the chemistry occurring on the surface. Nitrogen appeared to attach to the polymer chain at specific sites rather than uniformly over the whole chain as seen by the formation of high binding energy components and the continuously high intensity of the hydrocarbon component.