Articles you may be interested inEffect of reactive species on surface crosslinking of plasma-treated polymers investigated by surface force microscopy Appl.Clarification of oxygen bonding on diamond surfaces by low energy electron stimulated desorption and high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy Time-resolved investigation of the surface chemical modification of poly(ethylene naphthalate) by nitrogen plasma treatmentThe plasma modification of polystyrene with low pressures of nitrogen, ammonia, and oxygen has been studied by high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy. The method is shown to be capable of detecting nitrogen incorporation by variations in NH stretching band intensity and oxygen incorporation by carbonyl related bands. The method is particularly sensitive to loss of aromaticity as seen by evolution of the aromatic and aliphatic CH stretching band intensities.