Ar-O 2 plasma treatment of polyvinyl chloride surface enhanced antimicrobial properties of quaternary ammonium coating

Abstract

Abstract In the present work, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was activated by Ar-O2 plasma and grafted with quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) in order to improve QAC coating antimicrobial properties. The PVC surface treated with Ar and Ar-O2 plasma, both surface coated with QAC were characterized to compare its properties. Chemical composition of PVC surface treated with Ar and Ar-O2 did not differ but a significantly difference in morphology. Surface of Ar-O2 plasma treated PVC exhibited the formation of a mesh-shaped nanostructure consist of 15 nm high spikes, while the PVC surface treated with Ar plasma remained smooth. The application of the QAC coating on the PVC surface treated with Ar-O2 plasma resulted in ridge-shaped nanostructures distribute of smaller and denser 6 nm high spikes. Antibacterial assessments have demonstrated that the QAC coating with the mesh-shaped nanostructured morphology on Ar-O2 plasma treated PVC, exhibits enhanced antimicrobial potency against Staphylococcus aureus. This study introduces a novel approach to enhance the antibacterial efficacy of coatings.