Wood surface functionalization by means of low-pressure air plasma

Low-pressure plasma treatments in an radio frequency (RF) discharge of air have been used on the surface of wood to stimulate polar function groups onto pine and beach surfaces to enhance the wettability and activation. The effects of plasma treatments on the morphology and wettability of surfaces were characterized by using static contact angle measurements, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. A clear increase in the surface energy of the wood surface due to air plasma treatment was observed. The surfaces became highly hydrophilic when woods were exposed for 5 s or longer to the plasma discharge. The wettability of wood surface can be improved when oxygen functionalities were generated, which can be achieved directly in O-containing plasma or via post plasma reaction. A small reduction in the surface energy of the treated wood after 12 days of aging showed that the plasma-induced cross-linking in the surface of the wood was not the dominant phenomenon.