Surface modification of polytetrafluoroethylene with atmospheric pressure plasma in air

Surfaces of Polytetrafluoroethylene (FIFE) were modified in air at room temperature with two types of plasma generated by atmospheric pressure glow discharge (APGD) and dielectric barrier discharge (DBD). The modified FIFE surface was characterized with contact angle measurement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to understand the different influence of the two discharges on the surface modification. The results show that APGD is more effective than DBD in PTFE surface modification, possibly because of surface adsorption of more oxygen in APGD, which leads to contact angle lowering.