Surface modification of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) by gas plasma treatment

Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) samples were surface modified in gas plasma atmospheres of air, oxygen, argon and water vapour in order to increase the surface energy. Its dispersive and polar components were determined by contact angle measurements after various treatment times. Plasma treatment times of only 15s were sufficient in all gases studied for substantial surface modification of PTFE. The chemical composition of the surfaces was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (X.p.s.). The main results of all the plasma treatments were the abstraction of fluorine and the production of surface crosslinks, whereas only a low level of oxygen-containing groups was attached into the surface layer.