Surface modification with a remote atmospheric pressure plasma

A remote atmospheric pressure DC glow discharge is used for the treatment of polymer foils. The envisaged plasma effect is an increase in the surface energy of the treated material, leading e.g. towards a better wettability or adhesion. In this research, poly(ethylene terephthalate)-foil (PET) is used as the material to be treated. Changes in wettability are examined by measuring the contact angle. The homogeneity of the treatment over the sample area is examined and correlated to the distribution of the current density in the plasma. The results show that this kind of discharge is a good candidate as a plasma source to be integrated in a treatment installation working at atmospheric pressure, having the advantage of a homogeneous treatment, insensitive to the thickness and density of the treated materials.