CORONA, SPARK AND COMBINED UV AND OZONE MODIFICATION OF POLYMER-FILMSWEBP23

Different types of plasma, irradiative and chemical activation were co mpared in terms of surface functionalization. Corona and spark jet pla smas are characterized by low gas temperatures and high rates in surfa ce modification. UV irradiation in the presence of ozone does not invo lve any particle bombardment and acts only by enhanced photooxidative processes. Although ion implantation can be avoided, this method is no t free of radiative damage in both the surface-near region and the bul k of polymers. Furthermore, its functionalization rate is low. In rela tion to low-pressure O-2 plasma modification, all treatments mentioned here have a low efficiency in adhesion promotion due to oxidative deg radation of macromolecules and formation of molecular debris known as the ''weak boundary layer''. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.