Modification of polyethylene by RF plasma in different/mixture gases

Abstract

Herein, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films were treated using radio-frequency plasma discharge in the presence of air, nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and their mixtures to introduce new chemical functionalities. The surface properties of treated LDPE were qualitatively and quantitatively characterized using various analytical and microscopic techniques. It was found that the optimum plasma treatment for LDPE occurs in the presence of air plasma at an exposure time of 120 s and 80 W of nominal power. The plasma formed layer had tendency to increasing thickness with increasing treatment time up to 60 s using air and oxygen and even more with inert gases. An aging study of plasma-treated LDPE samples stored in ambient air or water medium revealed the partial hydrophobic recovery.