Surface modification of polypropylene with CF₄, CF₃H, CF₃Cl, and CF₃Br plasmas

Abstract

Abstract ESCA and contact angle measurements were used to characterize the surfaces of polypropylene and glass substrates exposed to CF 4 , CF 3 H, CF 3 Cl, and CF 3 Br plasmas. The use of both organic and inorganic substrates allowed clear distinction between treatments which led to plasma polymerization and treatments which caused grafting of functional groups directly to the substrate surfaces. CF 4 plasmas were the only treatments studied which fluorinated polypropylene surfaces directly, without the deposition of a thin, plasma‐polymerized film. CF 3 H polymerized in a plasma, while CF 3 Cl and CF 3 Br plasmas caused chlorination and bromination of polypropylene surfaces, respectively. Correlations were made between the active species present in the plasmas and the surface chemistry observed on the treated polypropylene substrates.