More than 99% of all visible matter in the universe occurs as highly ionized gas plasma with high energy content. Electrical low- and atmospheric-pressure plasmas are characterized by continuous source of moderate quantities of energy or enthalpy transferred predominantly as kinetic energy of electrons. Therefore, such energetically unbalanced plasmas have low gas temperature but produce sufficient energy for inelastic collisions with atoms and molecules in the gas phase, thus producing reactive species and photons, which are able to initiate all types of polymerizations or activate any surface of low reactive polymers. However, the broadly distributed energies in the plasma exceed partially the binding energies in polymers, thus initiating very often unselective reactions and polymer degradation. The intention of this book is to present new plasma processes and new plasma reactions of high selectivity and high yield. This book aims to bridge classical and plasma chemistry, particularly focusing on polymer chemistry in the bulk and on the surface under plasma exposure. The stability of surface functionalization and the qualitative and quantitative measurement of functional groups at polymer surface are featured prominently, and chemical pathways for suppressing the undesirable side effects of plasma exposure are proposed and illustrated with numerous examples. Special attention is paid to the smooth transition from inanimate polymer surfaces to modified bioactive polymer surfaces. A wide range of techniques, plasma types and applications are demonstrated.

NONTHERMAL PLASMAS FOR MATERIALS PROCESSING This unique book covers the physical and chemical aspects of plasma chemistry with polymers and gives new insights into the interaction of physics and chemistry of nonthermal plasmas and their applications in materials science for physicists and chemists. The properties and characteristics of plasmas, elementary (collision) processes in the gas phase, plasma surface interactions, gas discharge plasmas and technical plasma sources, atmospheric plasmas, plasma diagnostics, polymers and plasmas, plasma polymerization, post-plasma processes, plasma, and wet-chemical processing, plasma-induced generation of functional groups, and the chemical reactions on these groups along with a few exemplary applications are discussed in this comprehensive but condensed state-of-the-art book on plasma chemistry and its dependence on plasma physics. While plasma physics, plasma chemistry, and polymer science are often handled separately, the aim of the authors is to harmoniously join the physics and chemistry of low-pressure and atmospheric-pressure plasmas with polymer surface chemistry and polymerization and to compare such chemistry with classic chemistry. Readers will find in these chapters Interaction of plasma physics and chemistry in plasmas and at the surface of polymers; Explanation and interpretation of physical and chemical mechanisms on plasma polymerization and polymer surface modification; Introduction of modern techniques in plasma diagnostics, surface analysis of solids, and special behavior of polymers on exposure to plasmas; Discussion of the conflict of energy-rich plasma species with permanent energy supply and the much lower binding energies in polymers and alternatives to avoid random polymer decomposition Technical applications such as adhesion, cleaning, wettability, textile modification, coatings, films, etc. New perspectives are explained about how to use selective and mild processes to allow post-plasma chemistry on non-degraded polymer surfaces. Audience Physicists, polymer chemists, materials scientists, industrial engineers in biomedicine, coatings, printing, etc.

Polymer Surfaces - From Physics to Technology is divided into four main sections. Firstly the origins and physical principles governing the properties of polymer surfaces are considered. Next the authors discuss methods of characterization, particularly spectroscopic, and those connected to surface energetics.

This book is a collection of invited papers (previously published in special issues of the Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology) written by internationally recognized researchers actively working in the field of plasma surface modification. It provides a current, comprehensive overview of the plasma treatment of polymers. In contrast to plasm

In what is an extremely practical and applicable new work, experts provide concise explanations, with examples and illustrations, of the key techniques in this important field. In each case, after basic principles have been reviewed, applications of the experimental techniques are discussed and illustrated with specific examples. Scientists and engineers in research and development will benefit from an application-oriented book that helps them to find solutions to both fundamental and applied problems. They will know that the surfaces and interfaces of polymers play an important role in most of the application areas of polymers, from moulds, foils, and composites, to biomaterials and applications in micro- and nanotechnology.

This book addresses plasma modification of polyolefin surfaces. It comprises 21 chapters divided into three major sections. The first section covers the different techniques used for plasma modification of polyolefin surfaces and the effects of various gases as a surrounding medium, while the second provides a detailed analysis of the physics and chemistry of plasma modification and discusses various innovative characterization techniques, as well as ageing of the modified surface. It focuses on the analysis of changes in polymers’ surface chemistry using various spectroscopic techniques, and of changes in their surface morphology after plasma treatment using optical microscopy, electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. In addition, it provides detailed information on the characterization of modified polymer surfaces. The book’s third and last section covers a range of applications of plasma-modified polyolefin surfaces varying from the packaging industry to the biomedical field, and shares valuable insights on the lifecycle analysis of plasma modification and modified surfaces.

In current materials R&D, high priority is given to surface modification techniques to achieve improved surface properties for specific applications requirements. Plasma treatment and polymerization are important technologies for this purpose. This book provides a basic and thorough presentation of this subject. This is probably the first book