Issue 32, 2013

On the effects of atmospheric-pressure microplasma array treatment on polymer and biological materials

Abstract

This paper reports the first systematic investigation on the effects of atmospheric-pressure helium microplasma array treatment on the surface chemistries of model organic materials and a biological coating. These materials include polystyrene (PS), low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), and bovine serum albumin (BSA). The plasma treatment introduced a range of oxygen functionalities into the surface of the polymers, with oxygen incorporation reaching “saturation” after relatively short treatment times. PS and LDPE surfaces were more readily oxidised and to a greater depth compared to ETFE. The polymer surfaces became smoother at short plasma treatment times due to removal of adventitious hydrocarbon, but became rougher at longer treatment times as a result of etching of low molecular weight, volatile material from the surface. Atmospheric-pressure helium microplasma array treatment of a BSA layer resulted in the majority of the protein being removed from the underlying (PS) surface. The plasma treatment reduced the surface roughness of the BSA coating at short treatment times, but at longer treatment times, the surface roughness increased and the surfaces exhibited granular structures. All of the hydrophobic polymers became hydrophilic after the plasma treatment. The hydrophilicity of the surfaces decreased upon storage (hydrophobic recovery) and none of the polymers reverted to their original hydrophobic state, even after 500 h of storage. The knowledge presented in this paper may be useful in the development of new manufacturing processes based on atmospheric-pressure plasma and in the field of plasma medicine, particularly with respect to cleaning and sterilisation methods. In addition, it provides a foundation for future efforts to establish the mechanisms behind interactions of atmospheric-pressure plasmas with materials.

Graphical abstract: On the effects of atmospheric-pressure microplasma array treatment on polymer and biological materials

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
24 Apr 2013
Accepted
05 Jun 2013
First published
07 Jun 2013

RSC Adv., 2013,3, 13437-13445

On the effects of atmospheric-pressure microplasma array treatment on polymer and biological materials

G. Desmet, A. Michelmore, E. J. Szili, S. Park, J. G. Eden, R. D. Short and S. A. Al-Bataineh, RSC Adv., 2013, 3, 13437 DOI: 10.1039/C3RA42025F

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements