Surface Modification of Polyetheretherketone by Helium/nitrogen and Nitrous Oxide Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapour Deposition

Abstract

AbstractThe surface of the polyetheretherketone (PEEK) samples was modified by the plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) in the mixture of He and N2 as well as in the N2O atmosphere. Morphological characterization of the PEEK as well as its surface roughness, chemical structure, and surface free energy were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and sessile drop technique, respectively. The highest increase in the polar component of the total surface energy was observed for PEEK modified by He+N2 plasma, which correlated with significant increase in the concentration of oxygen and nitrogen-containing chemical functionalities as revealed by XPS. For PEEK submitted to N2O plasma treatment significant changes in surface topography and increase in roughness were observed, but changes in surface chemistry and surface free energy were mild.