Plasma modification of polycarbonates

• Authors: ZAJÍČKOVÁ Lenka; BURŠÍKOVÁ Vilma; PEŘINA Vratislav; MACKOVÁ Anna; SUBEDI Deepak Prasad; JANČA Jan; SMIRNOV Sergej
• Year of publication: 2001
• Type: Article in Periodical
• Magazine / Source: Surface & coatings technology
• MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Science
• Field: Plasma physics
• Description: We deposited protective coatings on polycarbonates from hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) and HMDSO/O2 mixtures by plasma enhanced CVD method. We studied especially deposition rate, optical constants in UV/VIS, film composition and mechanical properties in dependence on rf power and oxygen to HMDSO flow rate ratio. Plasma polymer HMDSO films (PP-HMDSO)showed good transparency in the visible and increased absorption in UV region. The optical constants of HMDSO/O2 films were similar to the tabulated SiO2. In general, the films were characterised by a relative high content of hydrogen (22-66 %) and a carbon content below 20 %. The films deposited at the oxygen to HMDSO flow rate ratio higher than 15 exhibit higher tensile stress and higher hardness than those prepared at ratios of 5-10. The nature of the internal stress changed to compressive for PP-HMDSO. Plasma pretreatment of polycarbonate in argon significantly improved the film adherence especially when low powers and short treatment times were used.

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