Eur. Phys. J. D 58, 305-310 (2010)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2010-00121-9

Modification of polyethylene powder with an organic precursor in a spiral conveyor by hollow cathode glow discharge

¹ Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Christian-Albrechts University, Leibnizstr. 19, 24098 Kiel, Germany
² Institute for Materials Science - Multicomponent Materials, Faculty of Engineering, Christian-Albrechts University, 24098 Kiel, Germany

Corresponding author: ^a quitzau@physik.uni-kiel.de

Received: 25 January 2010
Revised: 30 March 2010
Published online: 12 May 2010

Abstract

Hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) films were deposited on polyethylene (PE, (C₂H₄)) powder by hollow cathode glow discharge. The reactive species in different HMDSO/Ar plasmas were studied by optical emission spectroscopy (OES). Increasing the HMDSO fraction in the gas mixture additional compounds like CH, OH, SiC and SiO can be identified. After deposition the formed silicon and carbon containing groups (C–O, C=O, SiC and SiO) on the PE powder surface have been analyzed by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS). Changes in wettability depending on the HMDSO fraction were investigated by contact angle measurements (CAM). The free surface energy of the PE powder decreases with increasing HMDSO fraction in the process gas and encapsulation of the powder particles occurs. An aging effect of the plasma treated PE surface was observed depending on the process gas composition. The higher the HMDSO fraction the less is the aging effect of the plasma treated PE surface.