Polymer-Cold Plasma Interactions

Plasma treatment (low and atmospheric pressure) is broadly used for the modification of surface properties of solid polymer materials. The plasma treatment creates a complex mixture of surface functionalities, which influences surface physical and chemical properties, and results in a dramatic change in the wetting behavior of the surface, resulting in the increase of specific surface energy and decrease of the apparent contact angle. Plasma sheaths play a crucial role in the cold plasma–polymer interaction. Hydrophilization achieved under plasma treatment of polymers is lost with time due to the hydrophobic recovery.