Surface Modification of Polymethylmethacrylate by Argon Plasma Treatment

Ivan  B. Culaba,; Paz Victoria  T. Ramos,

Surface Modification of Polymethylmethacrylate by Argon Plasma Treatment

Abstract:

The surface modification of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) was done using a reconfigured high vacuum system without breaking the vacuum at 1500V voltage discharge and 6mA current discharge for ten minutes exposure of PMMA surface to argon plasma at 1.8X10-2 argon pressure. The surface analysis and characterization are performed using contact angle measurements, fourier transmission in infrared region (FTIR), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy before and after argon plasma treatment. The results showed that surface treatment induces a more hydrophilic surface of the PMMA as indicated by a decrease of the contact angle measurement from 73° to 46°. This is due to the increase of oxygen containing groups as indicated by the increase of OH bonds in FTIR and increase of oxygen/carbon ratio as determined by XPS. The RMS roughness of the plasma treated sample is 12.60nm. Correspondingly, the treated PMMA exhibit a more hydrophilic surface due to increase in OH bonds and increase in the ratio of oxygen containing groups, which may lead to increase adhesion work of PMMA to other materials for optical, microelectronic and biomedical applications.