A study of atmospheric-pressure CHF3/Ar plasma treatment on dielectric characteristics of polyimide films

In this work, the influence of atmospheric-pressure CHF(3)/Ar plasma treatment on surface dielectric properties of polyimide films was investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and contact angle measurements. The dielectric characteristics of the films were studied using a dielectric spectrometer. From the results, it was found that the plasma treatment introduced fluorine functional groups onto the polyimide surfaces. F 1s/C 1s ratios of the polyimides were enhanced with the increase of plasma treatment time. Consequently, the fluorine groups led to a decrease of the surface free energy and dielectric constant of the polyimide films, which can largely be attributed to the decrease of the deformation polarizability or London dispersive component of surface free energy of the solid surface studied.     

The influence of aging on surface free energy of corona treated packaging films

In packaging, plastic films are very often applied as overprinting materials. The printing properties of plastic films depend on the value of the surface free energy. Usually, during storage but before printing, the surface free energy is decreasing as a result of ageing. The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of elevated temperature and UV radiation on ageing properties and variation of the free surface energy for three commercially available plastic films: polyethylene, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate. The investigation was done experimentally, and the surface free energy was calculated using two approaches, Owens-Wendt and van Oss-Chaudhury-Good. The time change of polar fractions was also analysed. The calculation results were compared and it was concluded that UV radiation causes more changes in surface free energy than elevated temperature. In some cases, surface free energy values calculated with the applied methods show similar trends.     

UV-curable low surface energy fluorinated polycarbonate-based polyurethane dispersion

UV-curable low surface energy fluorinated polycarbonate-based polyurethane dispersions were synthesized by incorporating a hydroxy-terminated perfluoropolyether (PFPE) into the soft segment of polyurethane. The effects of the PFPE content on the UV-curing behavior, physical, surface, thermal properties and refractive index were investigated. The UV-curing behavior was analyzed by photo-differential scanning calorimetry. The surface free energy of the UV-cured film, which is related to the water or oil repellency, was calculated from contact angle measurements using the Lewis acid-base three liquids method. The surface free energy decreased significantly with increasing fluorine concentration because PFPE in the soft segment was tailored to the surface and produced a UV-cured film with a hydrophobic fluorine enriched surface, as confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. With increasing the fluorine content, the refractive indices of UV-cured films decreased. However, the UV-curing rate and final conversion was decreased with increasing contents of PFPE, which resulted in the decrease of the glass transition temperature (T(g)), crosslink density, tensile strength and surface hardness.     

Surface modification and adhesion improvement of polyester films

Facile surface modification of polyester films was performed via chemical solutions treatment. Surface hydrolysis was carried out by means of sodium hydroxide solutions, leading to the formation of carboxylate groups. Three commercial polyester films of 100 μm in thickness were used in this work: AryLite?, Mylar?, and Teonex?, hydrolysis time being the main modification parameter. FTIR-ATR analysis, topography and contact angle (CA) measurements, surface free energy (SFE) and T-Peel adhesion tests were carried out to characterize the modified films. A quantitative estimate of the carboxylates surface coverage as a function of treatment time was obtained through a supramolecular approach, i.e. the ionic self-assembly of a tetracationic porphyrin chromophore onto the film surface. The surface free energy and critical surface tension of the hydrolyzed polyesters was evaluated by means of Zisman, Saito, Berthelot and Owens-Wendt methods. It was shown that NaOH solution treatment increases roughness, polarity and surface free energy of polymers. As a result, T-Peel strengths for modified Mylar? and Teonex? films were respectively 2.2 and 1.8 times higher than that for the unmodified films, whereas AryLite? adhesion test failed.     

HREELS investigation of the surfaces of nanocrystalline diamond films oxidized by different processes

This article reports on the use of high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS) for the investigation of as-grown (hydrogen-terminated) and oxidized nanocrystalline diamond films (NCD) using chemical, physical, and electrochemical approaches. The results indicate that the nature and number of oxygen-related chemical groups generated on the NCD surface depend strongly on the oxidation process. A high concentration of C-O functions has been obtained on the NCD surface oxidized by rf (radio frequency) oxygen plasma, whereas the highest C═O/C-O ratio has been achieved by electrochemical oxidation. The NCD surface oxidized by rf plasma was totally free of C═O groups. Traces of surface hydroxyl groups (C-OH) have been detected upon annealing in air or through UV/ozone oxidation.     

Hydroxyl radical at the air-water interface

Interaction of the hydroxyl radical with the liquid water surface was studied using classical molecular dynamics computer simulations. From a series of scattering trajectories, the thermal and mass accommodation coefficients of OH on liquid water at 300 K were determined to be 0.95 and 0.83, respectively. The calculated free energy profile for transfer of OH across the air-water interface at 300 K exhibits a minimum in the interfacial region, with the free energy of adsorbtion (DeltaGa) being about 1 kcal/mol more negative than the hydration free energy (DeltaGs). The propensity of the hydroxyl radical for the air-water interface manifests itself in partitioning of OH radicals between the bulk water and the surface. The enhancement of the surface concentration of OH relative to its concentration in the aqueous phase suggests that important OH chemistry may be occurring in the interfacial layer of water droplets, aqueous aerosol particles, and thin water films adsorbed on solid surfaces. This has profound consequences for modeling heterogeneous atmospheric chemical processes.     

Foam films stabilized with alpha olefin sulfonate (AOS)

Alpha olefin sulfonate (AOS) surfactants have shown outstanding detergency, lower adsorption on porous rocks, high compatibility with hard water and good wetting and foaming properties. These properties make AOS an excellent candidate for foam applications in enhanced oil recovery. This paper summarizes the basic properties of foam films stabilized by an AOS surfactant. The foam film thickness and contact angle between the film and its meniscus were measured as a function of NaCl and AOS concentrations. The critical AOS concentration for formation of stable films was obtained. The critical NaCl concentration for formation of stable Newton black films was found. The dependence of the film thickness on the NaCl concentration was compared to the same dependence of the contact angle experiments. With increasing NaCl concentration the film thickness decreases gradually while the contact angle (and, respectively the free energy of film formation) increases, in accordance with the classical DLVO theory.The surface tension isotherms of the AOS solutions were measured at different NaCl concentrations. They coincide on a single curve when plotted as a function of mean ionic activity product. Our data imply that the adsorption of AOS is independent of NaCl concentration at a given mean ionic activity.     

Preparation of Water-Repellent Glass by Sol-Gel Process Using Perfluoroalkylsilane and Tetraethoxysilane

Coating films on glass substrate were prepared by sol-gel process using alkoxide solutions containing perfluoroalkylsilane (PFAS) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). The physical properties of the coating films were characterized by SEM, FT-IR, and XRD. And their surface properties were investigated by measuring contact angles and atomic compositions. Transparent coating films with smooth surface and uniform thickness could be obtained. The contact angles of the coating films for water and methylene iodide are extremely high, at 118 degrees and 97 degrees, respectively, and their surface free energies are about 9.7 dyn/cm. It was found that the water-repellent glass prepared is very hydrophobic and exhibits excellent water-repellency. Hydrophobic perfluoroalkyl groups are preferentially enriched to the outermost layer at the coating film-air interface, and two layers probably exist in the coating film. The upper layer oriented toward the air is composed of mainly perfluoroalkyl groups originating from PFAS, and the lower layer is composed of mainly -OSiO- groups originating from TEOS. The heat treatment after drying step cannot influence the surface enrichment of the perfluoroalkyl group. The hydrolysis reaction should be more completely done before the dip coating step to obtain lower surface free energy. The burning temperature should be less than 300 degrees C because the perfluoroalkyl group begins to decompose from this temperature. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

一种可溶性低表面自由能聚合物的制备及其表面性质

用全氟辛酸和甲基丙烯酸羟丙酯 (HPMA)为原料 ,合成了具有低表面自由能 ( 1 4 2mN m)的聚合物聚甲基丙烯酸全氟辛酰氧丙基酯 (PFPMA) ,接触角的测定表明聚合物具有较好双疏性 (疏水 疏油性 ) ,其对水的接触角高达 1 1 5°,对正十六烷的接触角为 75°.     

Static and Dynamic Wetting Behavior of Triglycerides on Solid Surfaces

Triglyceride wetting properties on solid surfaces of different hydro-phobicities were investigated using three different methods, namely, the sessile drop method for static contact angle measurements, the Wilhelmy method for dynamic contact angle measurements, and the captive bubble method to investigate thin triglyceride film stability. For solid surfaces having a surface free energy higher than the surface tension of triglycerides (tributyrin, tricaprylin, and triolein), a qualitative correlation was observed between wetting and solid/triglyceride relative hydrophobicities. On surfaces presenting extreme hydrophobic or hydrophilic properties, medium-chain triglycerides had a behavior similar to that of long-chain unsaturated ones. On a high-energy surface (glass), tricaprylin showed an autophobic effect subsequent to molecular adsorption in trident conformation on the solid, observed with the three methods. Thin triglyceride films between an air bubble and a solid surface were stable for a short time, for solids with a surface free energy larger than the triglyceride surface tension. If the solid surface had a lower surface free energy, the thin film collapsed after a time interval which increased with triglyceride viscosity. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Characterization of Plasma Polymerized Hexamethyldisiloxane Films Prepared by Arc Discharge

Herein, we present a simple method for fabricating plasma polymerized hexamethyldisiloxane films (pp-HMDSO) possessing superhydrophobic characteristics via arc discharge. The pp-HMDSO films were deposited on a soda–lime–silica float glass using HMDSO monomer vapor as a precursor. A detailed surface characterization was performed using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The growth process of the pp-HMDSO films was investigated as a function of deposition time from 30 to 300 s. The non-wetting characteristics of the pp-HMDSO films were evaluated by means of contact angle (CA) measurements and correlated with the morphological characteristics, as obtained from microscopy measurements. The deposited films were found to be nano-structured and exhibited dual-scale roughness with the static CA values close to 170°. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis was carried out to investigate chemical and functional properties of these films. Methyl groups were identified spectroscopically to be present within the pp-HMDSO films and were proposed to result in the low surface energy of material. The synergy between the dual-scale roughness and low surface energy resulted in the superhydrophobic characteristics of the pp-HMDSO films. A possible mechanism for the pp-HMDSO film formation is proposed.     

含氟丙烯酸酯共聚乳液及其膜表面特性的研究

以十二烷基硫酸钠 (SDS)和OP 10混合乳化剂 ,制备了甲基丙烯酸全氟辛基乙酯 (FMA8) 甲基丙烯酸丁酯 (BMA) 甲基丙烯酸 (MAA)共聚乳液 .通过DSC、FT IR、1 H NMR对共聚物的结构、组成进行了表征研究 .采用JZHY 180界面张力仪研究了共聚乳液膜表面的性质 ,结果表明 ,随着共聚物中全氟单体含量的增加 ,共聚物膜的表面能显著降低 ,当全氟单体的含量达到 2 5wt %时 ,其表面能降低到 19 74mJ m2 .X ray光电子能谱(XPS)对共聚物表面原子组成的分析结果表明 ,共聚物表面氟的含量远高于其平均含量 ,证明了含氟基团的趋表现象 .经退火处理 ,共聚物膜表面的氟含量增加 ,表面自由能降低     

梯度引发自由基聚合体系(Ⅰ)——基原法合成超高分子量聚合物

90年代在自由基聚合基础研究领域的一个重要成是“长 短终止”理论被进一步确认和接受[1 ,2 ] .按照该模型 ,聚合反应中的终止反应主要发生在长链自由基与短链自由基或初级自由基之间 ,即长链自由基之间很难进行终止反应 ,链终止常数随链长增加而急剧下降 .80年代初 ,Ｓｉｍｉｏｎｅｓｃｕ等[3] 曾报道了用等离子体照射封有单体的玻璃管 ,尔后放入暗处聚合的工作 ,发现不仅可得到分子量上千万的聚丙烯酸或聚丙烯酰胺 ,而且聚合活性可保持几十个小时 ;国内学者[4] 利用该法也得到了分子量接近千万的聚丙烯酰胺 .基于这种终止模型和实验结果 ,…     

Adhesion Aspects of Plasma Polymerized Acetonitrile and Acrylonitrile on Polypropylene Surface

Acetonitrile and acrylonitrile were plasma polymerized on Polypropylene (PP) surface. Surface modifications were characterized by surface energy measurements and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Surface energy measurement showed incorporation of hydrophilic groups along with deposition of cross-linked network of plasma-polymerized product. ATR-FTIR analysis of modified films showed incorporation of conjugated imine and amine groups. Using change in the relative intensities of C—H stretch bands of polypropylene surface, site of attachment of hydrophilic group and most predominant surface chemical reaction could be inferred. Chemical nature of plasma polymerized product was studied using FTIR by KBr disc method. Adhesion test was performed on modified surface by peel test method. Surface energy and peel strength measurements were performed for the samples aged for 2 months in order to check the durability of surface modification.     

Guided self-assembly of diblock copolymer thin films on chemically patterned substrates

We study the guided self-assembly of symmetric/asymmetric diblock copolymer (BCP) films on heterogeneous substrates with chemically patterned surface by using a coarse-grained phase-separation model. During the procedure, the free energy employed for the BCP films was modeled by the Ginzburg-Landau free energy with nonlocal interaction, and the flat, chemically patterned surface was considered as a heterogeneous surface with short-range interaction with the BCP molecules. The resulting Cahn-Hilliard equation was solved by means of an efficient semi-implicit Fourier-spectral algorithm. Effects of pattern scale, surface chemical potential, and BCP asymmetry on the self-assembly process were explored in detail and compared with those without chemically patterned substrate surfaces. It was found that the morphology of both symmetric and asymmetric BCP films is strongly influenced by the commensurability between the unconstrained natural period lambda* of the bulk BCP and the artificial pattern period. Simulation shows that patterned surface with period close to lambda* leads to highly ordered morphology after self-assembly for both symmetric and asymmetric BCP films, and it also dramatically accelerates the guided self-assembly process. The present simulation is in a very good agreement with the recent experimental observation in BCP nanolithography. Finally, the present study also expects an innovative nanomanufacturing method to produce highly ordered nanodots based on the guided self-assembly of asymmetric BCP films on chemically patterned substrates.     

Studies of the surface wettability and hydrothermal stability of methyl-modified silica films by FT-IR and Raman spectra

Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy were employed to study the hydrothermal stability and the influence of surface functional groups on the surface wettability of methyl-modified silica films. The surface free energy parameters of the silica films were determined using the Lifshitz-van der Waals/acid–base approach. The thermal decomposition mechanisms of the CH₃ groups in the methyl-modified silica material are proposed. The results show that with the increase of methyltriethoxysilane (MTES)/tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) ratio, the surface free energy and surface wettability of the silica films decrease greatly. This is mainly because of the contribution of the acid–base term; the intensity of Si–CH₃ groups increases at the expense of the intensity of O–H groups in the samples. The surfaces of the methyl-modified silica films exhibited predominantly monopolar electron-donicity. The contact angle on the silica film surface reaches its maximum value when calcination is performed at 350 °C. Thermogravimetric analysis implies that some low molecular weight species, such as H₂, CH₄, and C, are eliminated upon thermal decomposition of the –CH₃ groups. The Si–CH₃ and –CH₃ vibrational bands diminish in intensity as the calcination temperature is increased, disappearing completely when the calcination temperature is increased to 600 °C. When the calcination temperature is increased to 750 °C, the free carbon and CSi₄ species will be formed.     

Surface characteristics of a self-polymerized dopamine coating deposited on hydrophobic polymer films

This study aims to explore the fundamental surface characteristics of polydopamine (pDA)-coated hydrophobic polymer films. A poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) film was surface modified by dip coating in an aqueous solution of dopamine on the basis of its self-polymerization and strong adhesion feature. The self-polymerization and deposition rates of dopamine on film surfaces increased with increasing temperature as evaluated by both spectroscopic ellipsometry and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). Changes in the surface morphologies of pDA-coated films as well as the size and shape of pDA particles in the solution were also investigated by SEM, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The surface roughness and surface free energy of pDA-modified films were mainly affected by the reaction temperature and showed only a slight dependence on the reaction time and concentration of the dopamine solution. Additionally, three other typical hydrophobic polymer films of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), and polyimide (PI) were also modified by the same procedure. The lyophilicity (liquid affinity) and surface free energy of these polymer films were enhanced significantly after being coated with pDA, as were those of PVDF films. It is indicated that the deposition behavior of pDA is not strongly dependent on the nature of the substrates. This information provides us with not only a better understanding of biologically inspired surface chemistry for pDA coatings but also effective strategies for exploiting the properties of dopamine to create novel functional polymer materials.     

Nonideal mixing of alkylammonium chloride and decyldimethylphosphine oxide surfactants in adsorbed films and micelles

Miscibility and interaction of decyldimethylphosphine oxide (DePO) with ammonium chloride (AC), hexylammonium chloride (HAC), and dodecylammonium chloride (DAC) in adsorbed films and micelles were studied by surface tension measurements. Phase diagrams were drawn for the mixed adsorption, mixed micelle formation, and equilibrium between adsorbed films and micelles. Nonideal mixing of DAC and DePO was characterized by a negative excess Gibbs free energy and positive excess area of adsorption and negative excess Gibbs free energy of micelle formation. It is concluded that the interaction between DAC and DePO in adsorbed films and micelles is larger than those between the same surfactants alone due to two factors: ion-dipole interactions between the head groups of DAC and DePO and alkyl-chain/alkyl-chain interactions.     

Surface oxidation of polyethylene using an atmospheric pressure glow discharge with liquid electrolyte cathode

This study investigated the action of an atmospheric pressure air glow discharge (APGD) with aqueous electrolyte cathode onto the surface of polyethylene (PE) films. Distilled water and aqueous solutions of KCl and HCl were utilized as a cathode. The surface properties of PE were characterized by contact angle measurement followed by surface free energy calculation, Fourier transform infrared by attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR), and XPS. After treating the PE surface, we observed OH groups, CO groups in ester, ketone, and carboxyl groups, and CO groups in unsaturated ketones and aldehydes. For a treatment time of 20 min and a discharge current of 40 mA, atomic concentrations of O and N were 12% and 2%, respectively, under distilled water application. Modification processes were able to improve the surface free energy of PE.     

自组装成膜法制TiO2薄膜

采用有机分子自组装(Self-Assembly)成膜技术将硅烷偶联剂[(CH3O)3Si(CH2)3SH]组装在普通的玻片表面, 得到二维有的单层有机膜, 并将膜端基(SH)原位氧化为磺酸基(SO3H)。利用该功能基(SO3H)的吸附性, 从四氯化钛的水溶液中淀积制得了TiO2薄膜。X射线光电子能谱(XPS)和原子力显微镜(AFM)等研究显示, TiO2薄膜是均匀和连续的, 具有良好的透明性。