Extreme Ultraviolet Surface Modification of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) for Surface Structuring and Wettability Control |
| I.U. Ahada,b, H. Fiedorowicz a, B. Budner a, T.J. Kaldonski c, M. Vázquez b, A. Bartnik a and D. Brabazon b
aInstitute of Optoelectronics, Military University of Technology, S. Kaliskiego 2, 00-908 Warsaw, Poland bAdvanced Processing Technology Research Centre, School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Computing, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland cFaculty of Mechanical Engineering, Military University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland |
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| The surface modification of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymer films has been performed by irradiation of extreme ultraviolet photons to investigate the effect of surface structuring on wettability control. For biomedical engineering applications, surface structuring and wettability control of PET films could enhance the polymer biocompatibility by promoting cell adhesion and consequently proliferation. The PET films are irradiated with laser plasma extreme ultraviolet source based on double stream gas puff target under different environments. The extreme ultraviolet modified PET film surfaces are characterized by atomic force microscopy and WCA goniometer. The extreme ultraviolet surface modification resulted in the formation of nano- and microstructuring on the polymer surfaces. The surface structuring consequently increased WCA making the PET surfaces more hydrophobic. The results demonstrate the direct relationship between surface roughness and hydrophobicity for extreme ultraviolet modified PET samples. |
DOI: 10.12693/APhysPolA.129.241 PACS numbers: 81.05.Lg, 81.40.Wx, 81.16.Rf, 81.65.-b |