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Jan Roth1, Victoria Albrecht, Mirko Nitschke
1Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, P.O. Box 120 411, D-01005 Dresden, Germany.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|October 3, 2008
Summary
Surface modification of poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) using plasma treatments and poly(ethylene-alt-maleic anhydride) (PEMA) grafting creates stable, functionalized surfaces. This approach enhances material properties for applications requiring controlled hydrophilicity and adhesion.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Surface Chemistry
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) is a versatile polymer with tunable surface properties.
- Plasma treatments are effective for surface functionalization but can be unstable.
- Grafting polymers onto plasma-treated surfaces can enhance long-term stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the surface properties of PDMS after oxygen and ammonia plasma treatments.
- To study the subsequent grafting of poly(ethylene-alt-maleic anhydride) (PEMA) onto plasma-activated PDMS.
- To achieve long-time stable surface functionalization of PDMS.
Main Methods:
- X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for surface composition analysis.
- Contact angle and electrokinetic measurements for surface wettability and charge.
- Roughness analysis and pull-off tests for surface topography and adhesion.
- Plasma treatments (oxygen, ammonia) and polymer grafting (PEMA, gamma-APS).
Main Results:
- Oxygen plasma treatment yields a hydrophilic, silica-like layer prone to hydrophobic recovery.
- Ammonia plasma treatment generates amino-functional groups but forms a weak boundary layer.
- Grafting PEMA onto plasma-activated PDMS, with or without gamma-aminopropylsilane (gamma-APS), provides long-term stable functionalization.
- Surface reactivity of PEMA-coated PDMS is inversely related to hydrophilicity, controlled by amino group density.
Conclusions:
- Plasma treatment followed by PEMA grafting offers a robust method for stable PDMS surface modification.
- The degree of surface functionalization and resulting properties can be precisely controlled.
- This technique has implications for tailoring PDMS adhesion and surface energy in various applications.
