Visualization of Activated Area on Polymers for Evaluation of Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jets

Degradable Plasma-Polymerized Poly(Ethylene Glycol)-Like Coating as a Matrix for Food-Packaging Applications

Currently, there is considerable interest in seeking an environmentally friendly technique that is neither thermally nor organic solvent-dependent for producing advanced polymer films for food-packaging applications. Among different approaches, plasma polymerization is a promising method that can deposit biodegradable coatings on top of polymer films. In this study, an atmospheric-pressure aerosol-assisted plasma deposition method was employed to develop a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-like coating, which can act as a potential matrix for antimicrobial agents, by envisioning controlled-release food-packaging applications. Different plasma operating parameters, including the input power, monomer flow rate, and gap between the edge of the plasma head and substrate, were optimized to produce a PEG-like coating with a desirable water stability level and that can be biodegradable. The findings revealed that increased distance between the plasma head and substrate intensified gas-phase nucleation and diluted the active plasma species, which in turn led to the formation of a non-conformal rough coating. Conversely, at short plasma-substrate distances, smooth conformal coatings were obtained. Furthermore, at low input powers (<250 W), the chemical structure of the precursor was mostly preserved with a high retention of C-O functional groups due to limited monomer fragmentation. At the same time, these coatings exhibit low stability in water, which could be attributed to their low cross-linking degree. Increasing the power to 350 W resulted in the loss of the PEG-like chemical structure, which is due to the enhanced monomer fragmentation at high power. Nevertheless, owing to the enhanced cross-linking degree, these coatings were more stable in water. Finally, it could be concluded that a moderate input power (250-300 W) should be applied to obtain an acceptable tradeoff between the coating stability and PEG resemblance.

From Basics to Frontiers: A Comprehensive Review of Plasma-Modified and Plasma-Synthesized Polymer Films

This comprehensive review begins by tracing the historical development and progress of cold plasma technology as an innovative approach to polymer engineering. The study emphasizes the versatility of cold plasma derived from a variety of sources including low-pressure glow discharges (e.g., radiofrequency capacitively coupled plasmas) and atmospheric pressure plasmas (e.g., dielectric barrier devices, piezoelectric plasmas). It critically examines key operational parameters such as reduced electric field, pressure, discharge type, gas type and flow rate, substrate temperature, gap, and how these variables affect the properties of the synthesized or modified polymers. This review also discusses the application of cold plasma in polymer surface modification, underscoring how changes in surface properties (e.g., wettability, adhesion, biocompatibility) can be achieved by controlling various surface processes (etching, roughening, crosslinking, functionalization, crystallinity). A detailed examination of Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) reveals its efficacy in producing thin polymeric films from an array of precursors. Yasuda's models, Rapid Step-Growth Polymerization (RSGP) and Competitive Ablation Polymerization (CAP), are explained as fundamental mechanisms underpinning plasma-assisted deposition and polymerization processes. Then, the wide array of applications of cold plasma technology is explored, from the biomedical field, where it is used in creating smart drug delivery systems and biodegradable polymer implants, to its role in enhancing the performance of membrane-based filtration systems crucial for water purification, gas separation, and energy production. It investigates the potential for improving the properties of bioplastics and the exciting prospects for developing self-healing materials using this technology.

Different Radial Modification Profiles Observed on APPJ-Treated Polypropylene Surfaces according to the Distance between Plasma Outlet and Target

The plasma jet transfer technique relies on a conductive wire at floating potential, which, upon entering in contact with a primary discharge, is capable of igniting a small plasma plume at the distal end of a long flexible plastic tube. In this work, two different long tube configurations were employed for the surface modification of polypropylene (PP) samples using argon as the working gas. One of the jet configurations has a thin copper (Cu) wire, which was installed inside the long tube. In the other configuration, the floating electrode is a metallic mesh placed between two plastic tubes in a coaxial arrangement. In the first case, the tip of the Cu wire is in direct contact with the working gas at the plasma outlet, whereas, in the second, the inner plastic tube provides an additional dielectric barrier that prevents the conductor from being in contact with the gas. Water contact angle (WCA) measurements on treated PP samples revealed that different surface modification radial profiles are formed when the distance (d) between the plasma outlet and target is changed. Moreover, it was found that the highest WCA reduction does not always occur at the point where the plasma impinges the surface of the material, especially when the d value is small. Through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, it was confirmed that the WCA values are directly linked to the oxygen-functional groups formed on the PP surfaces after the plasma treatment. An analysis of the WCA measurements along the surface, as well as their temporal evolution, together with the XPS data, suggest that, when the treatment is performed at small d values, the plasma jet removes some functional groups at the point where the plasma hits the surface, thus leading to peculiar WCA profiles.

Application of Nitrogen Piezoelectric Direct Discharge for Increase in Surface Free Energy of Polymers

The subject of this study is the application of the piezoelectric direct discharge (PDD) operated with nitrogen to control the surface free energy (SFE) of polymers. The activation area, defined as the area of the zone reaching the SFE of 58 mN/m for high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), is characterized. For HDPE, the activation area was characterized as a function of the distance from 1 to 16 mm, the nitrogen flow from 5 to 20 SLM, and the treatment time from 1 to 32 s. For larger distances, where SFE does not exceed 58 mN/m, the water contact angle is evaluated. The activation area for nitrogen PDD is typically a factor of 3 higher than for air with all other conditions the same. A maximum static activation area of 15 cm2 is reached. The plasma treatment of lens panels made of PMMA is presented as application example.