Effect of low temperature plasma treatment on surface properties of aviation fluorosilicone rubber

Surface of the aviation vulcanized fluorosilicone (FS6265) rubber was treated by low temperature plasma treatment with Ar and O2 atmospheres. Chemical element of surface of FS6265 was analyzed by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The static contact angle, surface energy, and the peel strength were used to characterize the condition of FS6265. Surface morphology and surface roughness were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results show that the contact angle of FS6265 decreases from 101.5° to 19°, surface energy increases from 19.3mJ·m-2 to 73.2mJ·m-2 when it's treated by Ar plasma treatment. The water contact angle declines to 25.5°, and the surface energy improves to 70.6mJ·m-2 after being treated by O2. The images of SEM and AFM show that FS6265 surface roughness increases. XPS shows that the concentration of carbon element and inert fluorine element decreases, oxygen element improves greatly after LTP treatment, double bonded carbon atoms (C=O) and C-OH function groups are found in the surface. In addition, the time effectiveness of plasma treatment is obvious and for FS6265, surface energy change disappear after treated in Ar, O2 atmospheres and then being placed 12h and 8h. ©, 2015, Beijing Institute of Aeronautical Materials (BIAM). All right reserved.