Abstract: | Dielectric barrier air discharge treatment of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyisobutylene, polystyrene, and polyisoprene substrates has been characterized by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The relative reactivities of these polymers towards silent discharge oxidation are rationalized in terms of ozone molecules interacting with an excited surface. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |