Plasma polymerization of pyrrole and structures and properties of the polymerized films

Abstract

Pyrrole was plasma polymerized on low-density polyethylene film. The plasma polymerized pyrrole film was analyzed with X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and attenuated total reflection (ATR) FT-IR. A high level of O was found on the surface of the polymer film even though pyrrole monomer did not contain O. In addition, O concentration increased gradually with storage time in ambient air. The increased O was found to come from water in air, not O2. However, the water was not simply absorbed on the surface. The gradual composition change of the surface was found due to hydrolysis of nitrile group, which had been formed in the plasma polymerization, with water in the air.