In recent work, we found that the stability of the negative corona charge in radio frequency plasma treated polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) films (18 µm thickness) strongly depends on the plasma sources, the exposure time and the condition of the film in the plasma, i.e. the film orientation on the holder and whether the film is one-sided metallized or non-metallized, as well as the film side for corona charged. Using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, we conclude that two factors affect the negative charge stability: oxide formed on the surface and positive charges trapped in the film. The oxides serve to retain the negative corona charges and the plasma-generated positive charges recombine with the negative corona charges and cause the corona charge discharge after heating.