Effects of modified argon glow plasma source on PET polymeric surface properties

Abstract

A home-made plasma source with a Langmuir electrical probe was built for this work in order to create a plasma beam that could be utilized successfully in a range of uses. By modifying the operational parameters, including the discharging voltage, cathode-anode spacing, as well as argon (Ar) pressure, a steady discharging media was achieved. Additionally, a locally design electrical probe is introduced into the discharging plasma to monitor the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics curve in order to assign plasma properties. The probe is moved to any intended destination in the plasma volume and has the following dimensions: 1 mm in length, 0.5 mm in diameter. The gas pressure as well as probe-cathode separation are modified to record the plasma characteristics including electron density and electron temperature. As the pressure rises from 0.15 up to 0.3 Torr, it was found that the electron temperature Te varies 4.66*104 to 2.91*104 eV. By subjecting PET polymeric film to Ar plasma beams, its surface wettability is altered. By increasing the plasma period from 0 to 8 minutes, the overall surfaces free energy is raised from 32.2 to 67.7 mJ/m2. Additionally, the developed plasma source is highly efficient and tailored to satisfy the needs of applications like polymeric-surface modifications.