Surface Modification of Polymer Powders by a Far Cold Remote Nitrogen Plasma in Fluidized Bed

Abstract

In this work, nitrogen was grafted on the surface of polyethylene powders in a fluidized bed coupled to a nitrogen microwave post-discharge, at low pressure (10 Torr) and low temperature (<90°C). 50 g of powders have been treated per run. The influences of treatment-duration (1 to 9 h) and nitrogen flow rate have been studied on the XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy) N/C atomic ratio and on the powders wettability. These parameters increase with run duration and N2 flow rate but reach a plateau after 3h of treatment.