Influence of atmospheric pressure plasma treatments on the surface properties of ligno-cellulosic substrates

Abstract

AbstractThe paper aims at the investigation of atmospheric pressure weakly ionized plasmas with argon and acetylene to deposit plasma-polymerized coatings on wood veneers (birch, maple), cellulose paper, and pine wood flour to modify their surface properties, in particular their topography and wettability. The treatment was performed in a reactor containing an array of high-voltage needles and a grounded metallic mesh as electrodes. The deposition occurred in the discharge downstream of the plasma region. The plasma-polymerized acetylene deposits form spherical nodules on the surface of the substrates and change their wettability from hydrophilic to hydrophobic. The water contact angles of the veneer were determined with a goniometer. The capillary rise was combined with the Washburn equation to assess the change in hydrophilicity of the plasma-treated wood flour.