SYNOPSISTo gain a better understanding of the evolution of polymer surfaces under cold plasmas, model polymer surfaces were studied. The degradation products and the gas phase were investigated by mass and optical emission spectrometry. Their evolution versus time and power enable us to propose a mechanism that involves atomic oxygen, OH' and H' radicals. I NTRO DUCT10 N Low-temperature plasmas have been widely used to improve polymer surface properties 1-7 by introducing new functional These treatments lead to the formation of radicals that are, very likely, the promoters of surface cr~sslinking,~'-~~ functionalization, and d e g r a d a t i~n . *~-~~ The modification is the result of different plasma species such as ions, excited neutrals, as well as UV radiation. Therefore, it is very difficult to establish a relationship between these species and the relevant mechanisms. Moreover, polymer surfaces are very often poorly defined because of the presence of initiators and different additives: It can thus be difficult to pinpoint the origin of the modification observed. In order to simplify these systems, we decided to study model polymer surface^.^^,^^ Our goal is to establish a relationship between the physical and the chemical makeup of a polymer and its behavior in cold plasmas. Our strategy is based on the understanding of the surface modification of a very simple model whose chemical structure and morphology are well defined and that of the same model after its endowment with a chemical function. Hexatriacontane ( C36H74), which is known to share many structural features with highdensity polyethylene, has often been chosen as a model of this polymer. Crystallization of this pure * To whom correspondence should be addressed.Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 46, 1955-1966 (1992 crystallizes also in lozenge-shaped tablets as shown in Figure 1. In a first step, we have determined the effect of the presence of an ester function by comparing the behavior of C36H74 and OOD under plasma. In a second step, the model molecules have been compared with their corresponding polymers, that is, high-density polyethylene (cristallinity > 90% ) and polycaprolactone -[ (CH2)&02 In-(cristallinity N 55% ), respectively, in order to exemplify the role of the molecular weight of the amorphous domains and the chain ends. This will be the purpose of our next paper. The cold plasma treatment leads to bond breaking on the polymer surface; the fragments formed are kicked out into the gas phase and can be analyzed by mass spectrometry and optical emission spectroscopy. In this study, we report the influence of the plasma parameters (time, power) investigated in terms of ( a ) weight loss both on the parafinic model and on the ester, ( b ) concentration of the small molecules in the effluents originating from surface degradation, and (c ) emission intensities of the excited species.
1955