Modification of hydrophilic property of polypropylene films by a parallel-plate nitrogen-based dielectric barrier discharge jet
Journal
IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science
Journal Volume
38
Journal Issue
6 PART 2
Pages
1489-1498
Date Issued
2010
Author(s)
Abstract
Modification of the hydrophilic properties of polypropylene (PP) films has been investigated using the postdischarge region of a pulsed nitrogen-based dielectric barrier discharge under atmospheric-pressure conditions. Results show that, for the stationary PP films, the contact angle (CA) decreases dramatically from 103° (untreated) to less than 30° (treated) with a wide range of O2/N2 ratios (<1%) and treating distances (<10 mm). In addition, the CA can still be maintained at ∼40° after 24 h of the aging test. For the nonstationary PP films, a highly hydrophilic surface can only be obtained when the PP film is placed near the jet exit with O2/N2 ratios of 0.06%-0.2%. Additionally, the CA can only be maintained at ∼80°-90° when the moving speed is ∼1 cm/s after 24 h of the aging test. These observations are explained through measured optical emission spectra and ozone concentration data, in which the metastable nitrogen plays a key role in breaking the surface chemical bounds and the UV emission (200-300) participates in the process of converting the ozone into oxygen radical. Furthermore, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis showed that the O/C ratio increases dramatically for improved hydrophilic surface and the incorporation of functional groups containing oxygen (e.g., C-O and C = O) is critical in increasing the aging time after plasma treatment. © 2010 IEEE.
Type
journal article