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Plasma surface modification and characterization of POSS-based nanocomposite polymeric thin films
Brian H Augustine1, Wm Christopher Hughes, Kathryn J Zimmermann
1Department of Chemistry, MSC 4501 and Department of Physics, MSC 4502, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807, USA. augustbh@jmu.edu
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|March 16, 2007
Summary
Oxygen plasma treatment rapidly transforms hydrophobic polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane-co-methylmethacrylate (POSS-MA) polymer films into hydrophilic surfaces. Higher oxygen content in plasma accelerates this surface modification, enhancing material utility for biomedical applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Surface Science
Background:
- Nanocomposite hybrid polymer thin films, specifically poly[(propylmethacryl-heptaisobutyl-polyhedral oligomeric silsequioxane)-co-(methylmethacrylate)] (POSS-MA), possess unique properties.
- Controlling the surface chemistry of these POSS-MA films is crucial for advanced applications, particularly in biomedical fields.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of remote oxygen plasma on the surface properties of POSS-MA thin films.
- To understand the mechanism of surface modification and its dependence on plasma composition and film structure.
- To evaluate the potential of plasma-treated POSS-MA for biomedical applications.
Main Methods:
- Advancing contact angle measurements to assess surface wettability.
- X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for surface elemental composition and chemical bonding analysis.
- Variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE) to study film thickness and optical properties.
Main Results:
- Oxygen plasma exposure rapidly converts POSS-MA surfaces from hydrophobic to hydrophilic within 20 seconds.
- Increased oxygen-to-nitrogen ratio in plasma accelerates the hydrophilic conversion.
- XPS reveals replacement of isobutyl groups with oxygen, forming a SiO2-like surface.
- Higher POSS content in the copolymer enhances resistance to plasma degradation.
Conclusions:
- Remote oxygen plasma effectively modifies POSS-MA surfaces, creating a hydrophilic, SiO2-like layer.
- The surface modification mechanism involves the removal of isobutyl groups and oxidation of the POSS cages.
- Plasma-treated POSS-MA films exhibit improved resistance to oxidation and enhanced hydrophilicity, making them suitable for biomedical devices like microfluidics.
