Alteration in the surface properties of direct-current discharge-treated tetrafluoroethylene-vinylidene fluoride copolymer films

A change in the contact properties of the surface of tetrafluoroethylene-vinylidene fluoride copolymer films by a dc discharge treatment has been studied, depending on the treatment time and the discharge current. It has been shown that the treatment of the films at the anode and cathode leads to a significant decrease in the contact angle and an increase in the total surface energy and its polar term. The change in the contact properties of the plasma-modified films during storage and heating has been studied as well. The experiments have shown that the formation of polyconjugated structures and crosslinking of macromolecules take place in the film surface layer during long-term treatment at the anode (>60 s, 50 mA), processes that result in an acetone-insoluble layer. The composition and surface structure of the films have been examined by Fourier-transform IR spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The formation of new oxygen-containing groups and double bonds on the polymer surface and crosslinking of macromolecules in the case of anode treatment have been revealed. It has been found experimentally that the discharge treatment increases the peel strength in the Scotch® 810/copolymer film system.