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Polymers
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Plasma Processing of Polymers, 2nd Edition
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Plasma Processing of Polymers, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Processing and Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 3692

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Bogdana Mitu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Innovation Centre in Photonics and Plasma for Advanced Materials and Eco-Nano Technologies, National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, Atomistilor 409 Str., 077125 Magurele Ilfov, Romania
Interests: plasma processing; magnetron sputtering; PECVD; atmospheric pressure plasmas; polymerization; functionalization; thin films; membranes; carbon nanomaterials; metal–polymer composites; textiles
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Veronica Satulu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, Atomiștilor 409, 077125 Măgurele, Romania
Interests: combined PVD/PECVD methods; surface chemistry; membranes; photocatalytic materials; wastewater treatment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plasma processing plays a crucial role in the synthesis and modification of polymer-based materials, being widely employed in both laboratory research and various industrial applications for optics, protective coatings, electronics, biomedical devices, and so on. In the new era of the circular economy, the usage of plasma polymers faces new challenges regarding the final product design, utilization of renewable resources, and innovative technologies that prioritize responsibility for end-of-life management.

Fortunately, substantial flexibility in the case of plasma polymers is gained through the adjustment of operational parameters like power, frequency, gas type and flow rates, polymeric precursors, or the plasma discharge modes. This versatility enables the customization of polymeric material properties, whether at the surface or within the bulk. Moreover, the field has witnessed notable progress in utilizing various atmospheric pressure plasma sources, thanks to their simplicity in construction, ease of use, and seamless integration into industrial production lines for polymer plasma processing.

Certainly, the ultimate performance of plasma-processed polymeric materials is closely linked to plasma parameters, emphasizing the importance of real-time monitoring and control of plasma sources.

This Special Issue aims to present the latest advancements in experimental, diagnostic, and industrial aspects through a collection of original research papers and review articles proposed by leading experts in the fields of physics, chemistry, materials science, and industrial engineering. The emphasis lies in plasma processing for advancing polymer-based materials, including plasma processes and modification techniques tailored to meet market demands and align with the principles of the circular economy. In this context, the following topics are considered to be of particular interest:

  • Plasma synthesis of polymer-like thin films and nanoparticles;
  • Plasma synthesis of nano- and micro-composite materials containing at least one polymeric component;
  • Plasma cleaning and functionalization of polymer surfaces;
  • In-liquid plasma processing and functionalization of polymers;
  • Sterilization and disinfection of polymeric surfaces through plasma exposure;
  • Investigation of reaction mechanisms and plasma-assisted chemistry;
  • Plasma diagnostics, modeling, and simulation for plasmas in polymerizable gases;
  • Applications of plasma polymers in flexible (nano)electronics, sensors, separation, and catalysis;
  • Expanding the utilization of polymers in the textile industry through plasma processing;
  • Plasma polymers reusage, recycling, and recovery. 

The goal is to provide an extensive overview of cutting-edge research in these areas and foster discussions that contribute to the ongoing progress in plasma processing for polymer-based materials.

Dr. Bogdana Mitu
Dr. Veronica Satulu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

 

Keywords

  • plasma techniques for deposition and polymerization
  • plasma diagnostics in polymerizable gases
  • plasma treatment of polymers
  • applications of plasma polymers
  • 3R in plasma polymers

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 5792 KiB  
Article
Modification of the Surface Crystallinity of Polyphenylene Sulfide and Polyphthalamide Treated by a Pulsed-Arc Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet
by Abdessadk Anagri, Sarab Ben Saïd, Cyrille Bazin, Farzaneh Arefi-Khonsari and Jerome Pulpytel
Polymers 2024, 16(18), 2582; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16182582 - 12 Sep 2024
Viewed by 723
Abstract
Atmospheric plasma jets generated from air or nitrogen using commercial sources with relatively high energy densities are commonly used for industrial applications related to surface treatments, especially to increase the wettability of polymers or to deposit thin films. The heat fluxes to which [...] Read more.
Atmospheric plasma jets generated from air or nitrogen using commercial sources with relatively high energy densities are commonly used for industrial applications related to surface treatments, especially to increase the wettability of polymers or to deposit thin films. The heat fluxes to which the substrates are subjected are typically in the order of 100–300 W/cm2, depending on the treatment conditions. The temperature rise in the treated polymer substrates can have critical consequences, such as a change in the surface crystallinity or even the surface degradation of the materials. In this work, we report the phase transitions of two semicrystalline industrial-grade polymer resins reinforced with glass fibers, namely polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) and polyphthalamide (PPA), subjected to plasma treatments, as well as the modeling of the associated heat transfer phenomena using COMSOL Multiphysics. Depending on the treatment time, the surface of PPS becomes more amorphous, while PPA becomes more crystalline. These results show that the thermal history of the materials must be considered when implementing surface engineering by this type of plasma discharge. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasma Processing of Polymers, 2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 4380 KiB  
Article
Atmospheric Plasma Treatment to Improve PHB Coatings on 316L Stainless Steel
by J. Radilla, H. Martínez, O. Vázquez and B. Campillo
Polymers 2024, 16(14), 2073; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16142073 - 20 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1130
Abstract
In the present study, biopolymeric coatings of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) were deposited on 316L stainless steel substrates. The PHB coatings were developed using the spin coating method. To improve the adhesion of the PHB coating on the substrate, this method uses an atmospheric plasma [...] Read more.
In the present study, biopolymeric coatings of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) were deposited on 316L stainless steel substrates. The PHB coatings were developed using the spin coating method. To improve the adhesion of the PHB coating on the substrate, this method uses an atmospheric plasma treatment. Adhesion tests show a 156% increase in adhesion after 5 s of surface treatment. Raman spectroscopy analysis of the polymer shows the incorporation of functional groups and the formation of new hydrogen bonds, which can help us bind drugs and promote osteogenesis after plasma treatment. Additionally, the electrochemical behaviors in artificial body fluids (Hanks’ solution) of the PHB coatings on the steel were evaluated with potentiodynamic tests, which revealed a decrease in the corrosion current and resistance to the transfer of the charge from the electrolyte to the 316L steel because of the PHB coating. All the PHB coatings were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy after the electrochemical tests. This analysis confirmed the diffusion of electrolyte species toward the surface and the degradation of the polymer chain for the first 15 s of treatment with atmospheric plasma. These findings support the claim that plasma surface modification is a quick, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective method to enhance the performance of PHB coatings on 316L stainless steel for medical devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasma Processing of Polymers, 2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 1425 KiB  
Article
Adhesion Properties and Stability of Polar Polymers Treated by Air Atmospheric Pressure Plasma
by Roxana Ciobanu, Ilarion Mihăilă, Cătălin Borcia and Gabriela Borcia
Polymers 2024, 16(11), 1552; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16111552 - 30 May 2024
Viewed by 632
Abstract
This study continues the discussion on the surface modification of polymers using an atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) reactor in air. These results complement prior research focusing on nonpolar polymers. Polymers, such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyetheretherketone, and polymethyl methacrylate, containing structurally bonded oxygen are [...] Read more.
This study continues the discussion on the surface modification of polymers using an atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) reactor in air. These results complement prior research focusing on nonpolar polymers. Polymers, such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyetheretherketone, and polymethyl methacrylate, containing structurally bonded oxygen are studied, representing a range of properties such as oxygen content, crystalline/amorphous structure, polarity, functionality, and aliphatic/aromatic structure. APP induces superior wetting properties on the hydrophilic polymer surfaces with rapid and uniform modification within 0.5 s of exposure. The amorphous structures undergo additional modification for longer exposure. Moreover, the aliphatic chain structures require longer plasma exposure to reach surface modification equilibrium. The polar polymers reach a limit level of modification corresponding to a minimum water contact angle of about 50°. The surface polarity increases on average by a factor of approximately two. The equilibrium values of the adhesion work attained after post-processing recovery fall within a limited range of about 100–120 mJ/m2. The enhancement of surface functionality through the creation of oxidized groups primarily depends on the initial oxygen content and reaches a limit of about 40 at.% oxygen. The surface properties of the treated polar surfaces exhibit good stability, comparable to that of the previously tested nonpolar polymers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasma Processing of Polymers, 2nd Edition)
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Review

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13 pages, 3384 KiB  
Review
Plasma Treatment of Nanocellulose to Improve the Surface Properties
by Gregor Primc and Miran Mozetič
Polymers 2024, 16(17), 2516; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16172516 - 4 Sep 2024
Viewed by 666
Abstract
Nanocellulose is among the most promising materials for enhancing the mechanical properties of polymer composites. Broad application is, however, limited by inadequate surface properties. A standard technique for tailoring the surface composition and wettability of polymers is a brief treatment with non-equilibrium gaseous [...] Read more.
Nanocellulose is among the most promising materials for enhancing the mechanical properties of polymer composites. Broad application is, however, limited by inadequate surface properties. A standard technique for tailoring the surface composition and wettability of polymers is a brief treatment with non-equilibrium gaseous plasma, but it often fails when treating materials with a large surface-to-mass ratio, such as cellulose nanofibers. In this paper, the theoretical limitations are explained, the approaches reported by different groups are reviewed, and the results are interpreted. The treatment of dry nanocellulose is limited by the ability of uniform treatment, whereas the plasma treatment of nanocellulose dispersed in liquids is a slow process. The methods for enhancing the treatment efficiency for both dry and water-dispersed nanocellulose are explained. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasma Processing of Polymers, 2nd Edition)
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