Polymer materials are ubiquitous in medical devices, automobiles, electronics, food packaging and in a wide range of industrial and consumer products. 1,2 The surfaces of these materials can be modified for a variety of reasons: to harden the surface, to reduce or increase the surface reactivity, to alter the surface roughness, etc.3,4
One of the common methods involves using a plasma to etch the surface or to introduce custom functionality to the surface.5,6 The modification needs to be the one specifically desired and be free from contamination. The ability to check the results of the treatment is key is successful method development.
Plasma alteration of surfaces is a well-known process. The high energy in a plasma creates energetic species which can react with the polymer surface and create volatile compounds that leave the surface, thereby etching the surface, or make nonvolatile compounds which either create a thin barrier which stops further reaction or reduces further penetration into the material.