Plasma assisted hydrophilicity enhancement of polymer materials
A method of enhancing hydrophilicity of a hydrophobic polymer material includes pre-treating the hydrophobic polymer material. The pre-treating includes treating the hydrophobic polymer material with a first atmospheric pressure plasma discharge in a first atmosphere including carbon dioxide to obtain a pre-treated polymer material. The method includes treating the pre-treated polymer material with a second atmospheric pressure plasma discharge in a second atmosphere in which an aerosol of an amine is introduced; the amine includes at least one hydrocarbon substituent. A substrate is provided that includes a hydrophobic polymer material having a modified interface. The modified interface includes amine functional groups grafted on the hydrophobic polymer material, the modified interface having a surface energy, which, measured after immersion in water at 20° C. for 3 days, differs from a surface energy of the hydrophobic polymer material by 20 mN/m or less.
1. Method of enhancing hydrophilicity of a hydrophobic polymer material, comprising:
pre-treating the hydrophobic polymer material, comprising treating the hydrophobic polymer material with a first atmospheric pressure plasma discharge in a first atmosphere comprising carbon dioxide to obtain a pre-treated polymer material; and
treating the pre-treated polymer material with a second atmospheric pressure plasma discharge in a second atmosphere in which an aerosol of an amine is introduced, said amine comprising at least one hydrocarbon substituent, wherein the hydrophobic polymer material is a powder.
2. Method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one hydrocarbon substituent of the amine is unsaturated.
3. Method of claim 2 , wherein the first and/or second atmosphere comprises nitrogen.
4. Method of claim 3 , wherein the first atmosphere essentially consists of carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
5. Method of claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second atmosphere comprises nitrogen.
6. Method of claim 5 , wherein the first atmosphere essentially consists of carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
7. Method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic polymer material is a material having a contact angle with water of at least 65°.
8. Method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic polymer material is a material essentially made of a fluorinated or sulfonated polymer.
9. Method of claim 8 , wherein the hydrophobic polymer material is selected from the group consisting of: polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), perfluoroalkoxy alkane (PFA), polyethersulfone (PES), and polysulfone (PSU).
10. Method of claim 1 , wherein pre-treating and/or treating the hydrophobic polymer material comprises arranging the hydrophobic polymer material on a porous support and applying suction pressure through the porous support during atmospheric pressure plasma discharge.
11. Method of claim 1 , wherein the aerosol consists of droplets having a size in the range between 10 and 200 nm.
12. Method of claim 1 , wherein said amine is allyl amine.
13. Method of claim 12 , wherein the first and/or second atmosphere comprises nitrogen.
14. Method of claim 13 , wherein the first atmosphere essentially consists of carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
15. Method of enhancing hydrophilicity of a hydrophobic polymer material, comprising:
pre-treating the hydrophobic polymer material, comprising treating the hydrophobic polymer material with a first atmospheric pressure plasma discharge in a first atmosphere comprising carbon dioxide to obtain a pre-treated polymer material; and
treating the pre-treated polymer material with a second atmospheric pressure plasma discharge in a second atmosphere in which an aerosol of an amine is introduced, said amine comprising at least one hydrocarbon substituent, wherein the hydrophobic polymer material is a semi-permeable membrane.
16. Method of claim 15 , wherein pre-treating and/or treating the hydrophobic polymer material comprises arranging the hydrophobic polymer material on a porous support and applying suction pressure through the porous support during atmospheric pressure plasma discharge.
17. Method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one hydrocarbon substituent of the amine is unsaturated.
18. Method of claim 15 , wherein the first and/or second atmosphere comprises nitrogen.
19. Method of claim 15 , wherein the hydrophobic polymer material is a material essentially made of a fluorinated or sulfonated polymer.
20. Method of claim 15 , wherein the aerosol consists of droplets having a size in the range between 10 and 200 nm.