| Abstract: | Thin films (< 1 μm) of plasma polymerized N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (PPNVP) have been prepared, using an inductively coupled RF glow discharge in a flow-through reactor system. PPNVP films were hydrophilic, smooth, and appeared morphologically homogeneous. The polymer deposition rate was found to increase linearly with NVP flow rate, and to decrease with the distance from the induction coil. ATR–FT–IR spectral studies suggested a highly branched polymer structure and included absorptions at 2150 and 1540 cm?1 which were unique to the plasma polymer and derived from lactam ring opening/breaking reactions. ESCA studies demonstrated that, under a given set of plasma reaction conditions, the surface composition was consistent throughout the reactor. However, polymer composition was influenced by larger changes in the plasma energy, since the nitrogen content was found to decrease with increasing W/FM. This corresponded to concomitant increases in the advancing water contact angles and to small but reproducible changes in the IR spectrum. |
