Surface modification of polytetrafluoroethylene with tetraethoxysilane by using remote argon/dinitrogen oxide microwave plasma

The use of remote microwave plasma for the polymerization and deposition of tetraethoxysilane on the surface of polytetrafluoroethylene was investigated using a mixture of Argon and dinitrogen oxide as carrier gas. Layers with thicknesses of 0.5-3 mu m were obtained, differing in chemical composition, surface energy, and flexibility/ brittleness, depending on the plasma power and both the treatment and aging times. In general, milder treatments and shorter aging times resulted in higher contents of organic structural elements in the layers and greater flexibility and surface energy. Anchoring between the layers and the bulk polytetrafluoroethylene was at least partially caused by fibrils interconnecting the two components. These results were obtained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in the attenuated total reflection mode, contact angle measurements, and scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive X-ray analysis. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.