Rapid hydrophilization of model polyurethane/urea (PURPEG) polymer scaffolds using oxygen plasma treatment

Rok Zaplotnik, Alenka Vesel, Gregor Primc, Xiangyu Liu, Kevin C. Chen, Chiju Wei, Kaitian Xu, Miran Mozetic

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Polyurethane/urea copolymers based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PURPEG) were exposed to weakly ionized, highly reactive low-pressure oxygen plasma to improve their sorption kinetics. The plasma was sustained with an inductively coupled radiofrequency generator operating at various power levels in either E-mode (up to the forward power of 300 W) or H-mode (above 500 W). The treatments that used H-mode caused nearly instant thermal degradation of the polymer samples. The density of the charged particles in E-mode was on the order of 1016 m-3, which prevented material destruction upon plasma treatment, but the density of neutral O-atoms in the ground state was on the order of 1021 m-3. The evolution of plasma characteristics during sample treatment in E-mode was determined by optical emission spectroscopy; surface modifications were determined by water adsorption kinetics and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; and etching intensity was determined by residual gas analysis. The results showed moderate surface functionalization with hydroxyl and carboxyl/ester groups, weak etching at a rate of several nm/s, rather slow activation down to a water contact angle of 30° and an ability to rapidly absorb water.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number144
JournalPolymers
Volume8
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemistry
  • Polymers and Plastics

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