A process for modifying the surface properties of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) polymer using sulfur-containing gaseous plasma is presented in this paper. Samples of PTFE foils were treated in pure H2S gaseous plasma sustained by an electrode-less radio-frequency discharge in the E-mode. The samples were kept at a floating potential. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectrometry and atomic force microscopy were used to determine the evolution of the surface functionalities and morphology. An extremely thin film of chemically bonded sulfur was formed on the surface after a few seconds of plasma treatment, whereas a treatment duration of more than a minute resulted in the deposition of pure sulfur. The deposited film remained as thin as a few nanometers, even after half an hour of treatment.
COBISS.SI-ID: 28983591
In this paper we investigated the effect of sulfur groups on the surface thrombogenicity of the PET polymer. Surface cytotoxicity was determined by investigating the adhesion and proliferation of cells to the surface. This is a preliminary study, where we used the model films of polysaccharides containing sulfur functional group. Polymer PET was activated in plasma to ensure good adhesion of the sulfur-containing coating to the PET substrate. The results confirmed good cell proliferation as well as reduced adhesion of platelets.
COBISS.SI-ID: 28469543
Polymer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was treated in RF plasma in order to incorporate sulphur functional groups. Plasma was created either in SO2 or H2S gas. Surface chemical modification was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. While SO2 plasma caused functionalization of the PET surface with –SOx functional groups, H2S plasma caused functionalization with non-oxidized sulphur groups –SH2. Thrombogenicity of the plasma treated polymer surfaces was tested as well. High platelet adhesion was observed for both plasma treated surfaces.
COBISS.SI-ID: 28734503