Premium
Surface Modifications of Silk by Cold SF 6 Plasma Treatment
Author(s) -
Selli Elena,
Riccardi Claudia,
Massafra Maria Rosaria,
Marcandalli Bruno
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/1521-3935(20010601)202:9<1672::aid-macp1672>3.0.co;2-w
Subject(s) - crystallinity , contact angle , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , silk , polymer chemistry , oxygen , polymer , chemistry , materials science , wetting , chemical engineering , composite material , organic chemistry , engineering
Abstract Silk samples, treated in an appositely set‐up radio frequency SF 6 plasma reactor under different operation conditions, were characterized by XPS, EPR, DSC, XRD, ATR analyses and water contact angle measurements, also as a function of storage time after the treatment. Efficient attachment of fluorine atoms on the polymer surface occurred during the plasma treatment, imparting water repellence to it. Also the percentage of surface oxygen increased after the treatment, partially as a consequence of radical scavenging by molecular oxygen and the formation of peroxides. An increase in silk crystallinity during the treatment seems to contribute to ensuring durable water repellence properties.