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Nanofilms Produced by Magnetron Enhanced Plasma Polymerization from Methane and Oxygen for Coating of Rigid Contact Lenses
Author(s) -
Bergmann Michael,
Ledernez Loic,
Dame Gregory,
Lickert Sebastian,
Widmer Frank,
Gier Yvonne,
Urban Gerald
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
plasma processes and polymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1612-8869
pISSN - 1612-8850
DOI - 10.1002/ppap.201300028
Subject(s) - contact angle , materials science , wetting , coating , adsorption , oxygen permeability , protein adsorption , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , polymerization , chemical engineering , plasma polymerization , surface modification , cavity magnetron , composite material , oxygen , nanotechnology , polymer , thin film , chemistry , organic chemistry , sputtering , engineering
Although soft contact lenses are more widespread, rigid contact lenses have been around for decades and their materials have been greatly improved, especially in terms of oxygen permeability. Protein adsorption and wettability are, however, complex challenges still faced by both soft and rigid contact lenses (CLs). This study aims at improving these two major attributes by means of a low‐pressure magnetron enhanced 15 kHz plasma polymerization process. The wide parameter range of the process allowed the tailoring of the surface properties and delivered stable, reproducible plasma coatings. The XPS, FT‐IR, WCA, and QCM surface analysis methods were used to study the nanofilms. A contact angle of down to 18° and a protein (lysozyme) adsorption of only 0.2 µg cm −2 were achieved. Some correlations with the more commonly used “PEO‐like” coatings helped to explain the measurement results.