HYDROPHILIC SURFACE MODIFICATION OF POLYETHYLENE BY NO-PLASMA TREATMENT

The surface modification of polyethylene surfaces by NO-plasma irradiation was investi- gated from the point of view of the hydrophilicity and chemical composition. The hydrophilicity was evaluated from the advancing contact angle of water and the surface energy. The chemical composition of the modified surfaces was determined by diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and XPS. NO-plasma irradiation for 5 min made the polyethylene surfaces hydrophilic. The advancing contact angle of water on the modified polyethylene surfaces reached 28 deg, and the surface energy was 57.6 mJ/m2. The incorporation of oxygen and nitrogen moieties on the polyethylene surfaces occurred during the NO-plasma irradiation. The main oxygen moieties were carbonyl groups, hydroxyl groups, and ether linkages; the nitrogen moieties were amino groups. NO-plasma irradiation was more effective in improving the hydrophilicity than the O2plasma, N2plasma, or corona discharge treatment. © VSP 1990.