Locally Resolved Analysis of Polymer Surface Functionalization by an Atmospheric Pressure Argon Microplasma Jet with Air Entrainment

Abstract

Local analysis was performed of the chemical modification of polymeric surfaces induced by an atmospheric pressure microplasma jet operated with argon and small additions of air (1%). In particular, radial profiles were determined of water contact angle measurements and of the chemical surface composition using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Special emphasis was given to the effects of air entrainment. Contact angle profiles significantly vary with treatment time. For longer treatment, the narrow primary profiles are superimposed by much wider secondary profiles of different shapes. That indicates the existence of different modification mechanisms. One possible reason for that is additional oxygen admixture to the radial afterglow. According to the analysis of nitrogen incorporation, substantial radial variations are found for the portion of gas phase oxygen and alkyl surface radicals, respectively.

Local Analysis of Pet Surface Functionalization by an Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet

“…The minimum WCA value decreases by approximately 10° when the exposure time is increased from 5 to 10 s, but does not decrease anymore when the exposure time is further increased from 10 to 20 s. This indicates the existence of a saturation region, in other words a subsequent increase in treatment time does not lead to a decrease in minimum WCA value in the center. This behavior is in close accordance with other papers describing the plasma surface modification of polymers: several authors have already observed decreasing WCA values with increasing plasma exposure times and a subsequent saturation region . As previously mentioned, the width of the hydrophilic region is also dependent on the plasma exposure time and increases with increasing exposure time.…”

High Rate Etching of Polymers by Means of an Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet

“…Depending on the operating gas the length of the plasma jet varied between 12 mm (only Ar plasma) and 6 mm (Ar + 1% O 2 plasma). Further details of this jet are described elsewhere 25, 26. The polymers were treated localized with the plasma jet operating with argon at a flow rate of 5 slm and small admixtures of O 2 (0…1% in the gas flow).…”

A novel cold atmospheric pressure air plasma jet for peri-implantitis treatment: An <i>in vitro</i> study

“…At present, certain types of cold atmospheric pressure plasma jets are being used to remove oral biofilms on titanium surfaces and most of them are noble gas air plasma jets. Most previous studies have suggested cold plasma as a feasible option for the treatment of peri-implantitis [44][45][46] . Duske et al suggested that mechanical treatment combined with noble gas cold plasma (99% argon+1% oxygen) application is a promising strategy to treat periimplantitis 28) .…”