Surface characterization of plasma‐treated PTFE

Abstract

Abstract PTFE was treated with oxygen and argon plasmas and the effects of treatment were evaluated by actinometry, SEM, XPS, static SIMS and contact angle measurements. At short treatment times for both plasmas and at long treatment times for argon plasmas, chemical modification of the surface was dominant, while at longer oxygen plasma treatment times, surfaces are deeply etched but chemically equivalent to untreated PTFE. Interestingly, the change in surface chemistry is paralleled by a simultaneous variation in plasma chemistry, suggesting that the two vary accordingly. The wetting behaviour of treated surfaces is interopreted on the basis of current theories on surface dynamics and contact angle hysteresis.