Modifications of Fluoropolymers by Atmospheric Pressure Nitrogen Discharge

This work provides insights into plasma-surface interactions during atmospheric pressure plasma treatment of fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), enabling the observation of surface modifications over time. These results demonstrate the possibility to produce a highly stable surface modification with minimal hydrophobic recovery, a characteristic often absent in atmospheric pressure plasma treatments. While conventional modifications (reduced contact angle and increased hydrophilicity) were observed, notably higher fluorine content remained on the treated surfaces, suggesting that complete fluorocarbon removal is not essential for achieving hydrophilicity. Furthermore, the modified surfaces exhibited strong resistance to aging, maintaining high hydrophilicity even after rigorous scrub testing. Adhesion testing, comparing plasma-treated samples to conventionally chemically etched polymers, revealed similar or superior adhesion strengths. These findings pave the way for novel, tailored atmospheric pressure surface modifications of fluoropolymers, particularly for applications in medical devices.