SURFACE MODIFICATION OF POLYETHYLENE BY M ICROWAVE PLASMA

Surface modifications of polyethylene (PE) by various microwave plasma (N-2, CO2, O-2) were investigated and compared. These plasma treatmen t all improve the hydrophilicity of samples and introduce oxygen-conta ining groups into the samples surface. Moreover amine was also formed for the N-2 plasma-modified. The effect of N-2 plasma modification is best on the improvement of surface hydrophilicity, and its modificatio n depth is about 5 similar to 6 nm, which can be got by calculating fr om the result of angular dependent ESCA analysis. The influences of sa mple location, microwave power, system pressure and treatment time on hydrophilicity of plasma modified PE were also studied. The results sh ow that a similar pattern and the optimal operation conditions are sui ted for these plasma treatment.