Plasma processes for surface modification of fluoropolymers using ammonia
AssigneeITT Avionics, A Division of ITT Corporation
InventorFrancis H. Montmarquet
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Abstract
There is disclosed a method of raising the surface energy of a fluoropolymer to enable one to wet the surface thereby allowing adhesion of various materials to the surface. The method involves placing the fluoropolymer in a sealed chamber while introducing a combination of oxygen and ammonia gas into the chamber at a predetermined pressure range and at a selected rate. A plasma is created in the chamber during the introduction of the gases for an interval sufficient to remove a substantial amount of fluorine from the surface of said fluoropolymer thereby raising the surface energy of the same.
Claims15
A method of raising the surface energy of a fluoropolymer, comprising the steps of:
- (a) placing said fluoropolymer in a sealed chamber,
- (b) introducing a combination of gases including oxygen and ammonia gas into said chamber within a predetermined pressure range,
- (c) creating a plasm discharge in said chamber during the introduction of said gases for an interval sufficient to remove a substantial amount of fluorine from the surface of said fluoropolymer to thereby raise the surface energy of said fluoropolymer to allow said fluoropolymer to be wetted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.