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4248154 
Journal Article 
Surface modification of polycarbonate and polyethylene naphtalate foils by UV-ozone treatment and mu Plasma printing 
Verkuijlen, ROF; van Dongen, MHA; Stevens, AAE; van Geldrop, J; Bernards, JPC 
2014 
Yes 
Applied Surface Science
ISSN: 0169-4332 
290 
381-387 
WOS:000329060100057 
In this study, we investigated the effect of UV-ozone and mu Plasma printing on surface modification of polycarbonate (PC) and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN). The effects on the wetting behaviour was studied, in terms of surface energy and chemical modification of the treated substrate, by analysis of attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (ATR-FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Both UV-ozone and mu Plasma printing are effective ways to modify the wettability of both polymer substrates, substantially increasing the wetting envelope after a short treatment period. This increase is primarily due to an increase of the polar part of the surface energy. This is confirmed by ATR-FTIR and XPS, which show the formation of oxygen containing groups as well as a decrease in the aromatic C C bonds on the surface of the substrate due to the treatment. For both types of surface treatment, prolonged exposure showed no further increase in wettability, although continuous change in chemical composition of the surface was measured. This effect is more evident for UV-ozone treatment, as a larger increase in O/C ratio of the surface was measured as compared to mu Plasma printing. It can be concluded that mu Plasma printing results in a more chemically selective modification as compared to UV-ozone. In the case that chemical selectivity and treatment time are considered important, mu Plasma printing is favourable over UV-ozone. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 
Dielectric barrier discharge; UV-ozone; mu Plasma printing; Surface modification; Surface energy; Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier; transform infrared spectrometry (AT-FTIR); X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS); Wetting