PLASMA GRAFTING

Using suitable plasmas it is possible to modify, at nanometric scale, the surface properties of polymers. This treatments occurs at a temperature near room temperature, with their action limited to the contact area between plasma and material and hence without variations of polymer properties. Varying the gas it is possible to change the chemical process with the insertion of specific chemical species.
Oxidizing plasmas on synthetic (polypropylene, Teflon® etc.) and natural polymers (wool, cotton and silk) increase wetting and adhesion for further treatments like painting. The use of plasmas based on organic and inorganic fluorinated products (CF4, SF6, NF3, SiF4…) modify polymer surface inducing hydrophobicity, and oil-phobicity. Treatments have short processing times ranging from few seconds to few minutes. Possible applications are textiles, plastics painting and joints.