Effect of H2S Plasma Treatment on the Surface Modification of a Polyethylene Terephthalate Surface

• Main Authors: Alenka Vesel, Janez Kovac, Gregor Primc, Ita Junkar, Miran Mozetic
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2016-02-01
• Series: Materials
• Subjects: hydrogen sulfide (H2S); plasma treatment; polymer; polyethylene terephthalate (PET); surface modification
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/9/2/95

H2S plasma created by an electrode-less radio-frequency discharge was used to modify the surface properties of the polymer polyethylene terephthalate. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectrometry and atomic force microscopy were used to determine the evolution of the surface functionalities and morphology. A very thin film of chemically bonded sulfur formed on the surface within the first 10 s of treatment, whereas treatment for more than 20 s caused deposition of higher quantities of unbonded sulfur. The sulfur concentration reached a maximum of between 40 and 80 s of plasma treatment; at longer treatment times, the unbonded sulfur vanished, indicating instability of the deposited sulfur layer. Large differences in the surface morphology were observed.