Surface properties of O2-plasma-treated thermoplastic fluoroelastomers under mechanical stretching

Abstract

Surface properties and structure of an oxygen-plasma-treated thermoplastic fluoroelastomer film under mechanical stretching were investigated using dynamic contact angle, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The contact angle of water on the surface decreased from 96° to 36° by the plasma treatment. The contact angle increased under uniaxial stretching: the plasma-treatment effect decreased. This was considered to be due to a dilution of the plasma-oxidized chains through the surface exposure of the matrix embedded chains by stretching. In other words, under stretching, the surface of plasma-treated films can be regarded as being chemically heterogeneous and being composed of treated and untreated parts. On the contrary, by the new surface modification procedure, that is, in situ plasma treatment under stretching, high hydrophilicity and high surface oxygen concentration were found to be maintained even at a high stretching ratio.

Deformation of Rubber & Surfaces

“…This was investigated with thermoplastic fluoro-elastomer, samples of which were given oxygen plasma treatment (200 W, 60 s). Figure 9 shows the strain dependence of dynamic contact angle q with water on the surface of the oxygen plasma treated thermoplastic fluoro-elastomer [12]. Without surface treatment, q had a high value of 96° and remained constant regardless of deformation of the sample.…”

The cavitation development of poly(4‐methyl‐1‐pentene) casting films studied by in situ small angle X‐ray scattering

“…During deformation process, semi‐crystalline polymers generally produce superstructures. The evolution of superstructures involves the variation of crystalline and amorphous phases, including orientation‐induced crystallization, crystal transition, chain orientation, fibrillary formation and cavitation and so forth 1–7 . Therefore, it is of great significance to study superstructure transformation and its correlations with stress–strain curves for preparing microporous membrane by dry process 8–11 …”

Structure variation and properties enhancement of uniaxial stretching poly(l‐lactic acid)/eggshell powder composites

“…[21][22][23] Structural studies of oriented PLLA reveals that stretching-induced crystallization is the straight cause of drastically enhancing in mechanical properties during stretching above the glass-transition temperature (T g ) of PLLA. [21][22][23] Structural studies of oriented PLLA reveals that stretching-induced crystallization is the straight cause of drastically enhancing in mechanical properties during stretching above the glass-transition temperature (T g ) of PLLA.…”

“…It is well known that biaxial or uniaxial stretching of semicrystalline polymers is an effective way to improve the mechanical properties, which is directly depended on the formation of superstructures. [21][22][23] Structural studies of oriented PLLA reveals that stretching-induced crystallization is the straight cause of drastically enhancing in mechanical properties during stretching above the glass-transition temperature (T g ) of PLLA. 24 Meanwhile, it is shown that the structure and performances of stretched PLLA highly depend on the stretch conditions, such as stretching temperature, stretch ratio, and rate.…”