The process of surface modification of polyvinyltrimethylsilane films by a low-temperature low-pressure 40 kHz discharge with filtered atmospheric air as the working gas was studied. It was found that plasma treatment of the surface of the samples acquired a stable hydrophilicity property. The chemical structure of the original and modified films was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the morphology was studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was shown that the discharge treatment leads to an increase in surface roughness and the formation of a SiOx layer on the surface to a lesser extent, however, than after processing by a direct current discharge. The study of the gas transport properties of the modified samples showed that the selectivity for the O2/N2 pair is somewhat lower than that of the films treated by a direct current discharge, but at the same time, the gas separation parameters are more stable over time.

The surface properties and chemical structure of nanosized coatings deposited on the surface of polyethylene terephthalate track-etched membranes by magnetron sputtering of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene and polytetrafluoroethylene in a vacuum have been studied. Application of coatings leads to hydrophobization of surface of the original membranes, the degree of which depends on the type of polymer used for sputtering and the coating thickness. The use of this modification method causes smoothing of structural inhomogeneities of the surface layer of membranes, which is explained by the deposition of coatings in the pore channels at a certain depth from the inlet and the overlap of pores on the surface of modified membranes. In addition, the deposition of coatings on the surface of track-etched membranes leads to a change in the shape of pores. The pore diameter decreases significantly on the modified side and remains unchanged on the untreated side of the membrane, while the membrane pores acquire an asymmetrical (conical) shape. The study of chemical structure of coatings using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that they contain oxygen-containing functional groups owing to oxidation of the polymer matrix. The developed composite membranes can be used in membrane distillation processes for seawater desalination.

The change in the surface morphology of polyketone, polypyromeltitimide, polyethylene naphthalate, and polyethylene terephthalate films under the influence of a direct current discharge has been studied. A significant increase in the roughness has been shown, which is more characteristic of films modified at the cathode. The adhesion properties (peel resistance) have been assessed using the T-test method according to ASTM1876-2001 with polyurethane glue. A significant increase in adhesion for the modified samples has been shown. The contribution of changes in surface morphology to the manifestation of this effect is discussed.

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to study the change in the chemical composition of the surface of polyketone films as a result of exposure to a low-pressure direct-current (DC) discharge. The films were placed at the anode and cathode; filtered atmospheric air was used as a working gas. It was shown that a significant number of oxygen-containing groups is formed on the polymer surface. An atomic force microscopy study detected that plasma treatment leads to a considerable increase in the surface roughness of the films. Such changes improve the contact and adhesion properties of polyketone films.

New results of studying the one-sided surface modification of polymer films and flat-sheet composite membranes based on poly(vinyltrimethylsilane) using low-temperature plasma are presented. Treatment is carried out by direct current discharge at a cathode and anode, air is used as a working medium, the exposure time is from 10 to 60 s, and the working pressure in a chamber is 15–20 Pa. The structure of the surface layers is analyzed by XPS, AFM, and SEM, and the contact properties of the surface are studied. For cathode-treated PVTMS films the effective permeability coefficients for O2, N2, СН4, СО2, Не, and Н2, as well as the effective gas diffusion coefficients, are measured experimentally and the effective gas solubility coefficients are calculated. The permeability coefficients of the studied gases for cathode- and anode-modified composite membranes with a selective PVTMS layer are determined. It is shown that the choice of electrode significantly affects not only the chemical structure of surface and near-surface PVTMS layers but also the gas-transport parameters of the modified samples. It is found that, in the case of cathode-modified homogeneous films, the values of permeability, diffusion, and solubility coefficients of gases are higher while the values of selectivity are lower compared with the anode-modified films. At the same time, the treatment of PVTMS films at the cathode for 30 s makes it possible to increase O2/N2 selectivity by more than two times relative to the initial values. The results of modification of the composite membranes differ from those attained for the homogeneous films, and, what is more, for the composite membrane treated at the cathode the O2/N2 selectivity is higher by a factor of 2.5 than the initial value. The potential of using surface modification of polymer films and membranes by low-temperature plasma to improve their gas-separation properties is demonstrated.

Experimental data presented in the literature on the depth of processing of polymer films using low-temperature plasma are considered. Changes in the chemical composition and structure along the depth of the samples have been studied using the modern experimental techniques of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectrometry, and transmission electron microscopy; precision etching was carried out with an Ar + 2500 cluster beam; and the pit depth was measured by profilometry. It has been found that the thickness of the modified layer is ≤50 nm and depends relatively little on the polymer nature.

The change in the contact properties of poketone films under the influence of a dc discharge has been studied. The change in the contact angles of wettability by water and glycerol, the work of adhesion, the total surface energy, and its polar and dispersion components as a function of the treatment time have been studied. Data on the safety of these parameters during storage of films in air under room conditions have been obtained. The adhesive properties (peel resistance) of plasma-modified poketone films have been evaluated using Scotch®810 adhesive tape and the T-test according to ASTM1876–2001 with polyurethane adhesive.

The results of an experimental study by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the chemical composition of the surface of polyethylene naphthalate films modified by low-pressure dc discharge at the anode and cathode are presented. Filtered atmospheric air was used as the plasma gas. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has been used to study the change in the chemical structure of plasma-modified films and to show the formation of a significant amount of oxygen-containing groups on the polymer surface.

The effect of the direct current discharge treatment on the contact properties of polyethylene naphthalate films has been studied. The change in the contact angles of wettability by water and glycerin, the work of adhesion, total surface energy, and its polar and dispersion components on the time of plasma treatment at the anоde and cathode has been investigated. A significant increase in the hydrophilicity of the polymer surface and a good stability of the obtained characteristics during storage of modified films in air at room conditions are shown. The adhesion properties of the polymer were investigated using T-test method according to ASTM 1876 2001. The data of peel resistance in contact with some adhesives for the initial and modified polymer were obtained. Atomic force microscopy was used to study changes in surface morphology under the influence of the direct current discharge treatment.

Comparison of two techniques of measuring the adhesive properties of polytetrafluoroethylene films modified by dc discharge using Scotch®810 glue tape and by the T-test method by ASTM 1876–2001 was carried out. The values of peel resistance were obtained, and the results were compared. It was shown that Scotch®810 tape can be used as a “quick” test in preliminary research.

Published data on the effect of low-temperature plasma on polydimethylsiloxane have been analyzed. Changes in the contact properties, chemical structure, and morphology of the modified polymer surface have been revealed using modern research techniques (contact angle measurement, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier-transform IR spectroscopy, atomic force and scanning electron microscopy). It has been shown that modification by plasma results in the formation of a hybrid material that has the surface layer consisting mainly of silicon oxide. Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition processes of hexamethyldisiloxane polymerization on various substrates are considered and the formation of similar hybrid materials containing a significant amount of silicon oxide is shown. Data on the use of such materials in biology, medicine, membranes, humidity sensors, and other fields of science and technology are presented.

An analysis of the literature on polyethylene terephthalate modification by low-temperature plasma treatment is presented. The use of modern instrumental methods (measurement of contact angles and calculations of surface energy and its components, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and FTIR spectroscopy, atomic force and scanning electron microscopy) for studying the properties of processed polymer samples is considered. The change in contact properties, chemical structure, and morphology of the modified surface of polyethylene terephthalate is shown. Data on studying hemocompatibility, antibacterial activity, and cell adhesion and proliferation after plasma treatment of polyethylene terephthalate are presented.

The adhesion properties of the films of polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypyromellitimide, and ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene modified by direct-current discharge are studied. The peel strength in various combinations of the polymers in contact with the use of adhesives of various chemical natures is measured by the T-peel test according to ASTM 1876–2001. It is shown that the action of plasma substantially improves the adhesion properties of the studied polymers.

The contact properties, chemical structure, and surface morphology of polypyromellitimide films modified at the cathode and anode by dc discharge have been investigated. A significant improvement in wettability and an increase in the work of adhesion, total surface energy, and its polar component, which persist for a long time when the films are stored in air under ambient conditions, are shown. The change in the chemical structure of the plasma-modified films has been studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the formation of oxygen- and nitrogen-containing groups on the surface has been revealed. Examination of the films by atomic force microscopy indicates a change in the surface morphology and an increase in its roughness. Modification of films by plasma leads to a significant improvement in their adhesion properties.

Исследовано влияние обработки в плазме низкочастотного тлеющего разряда при пониженном давлении на растворимость пленок на основе хитозана или его сополимера с олиголактидом и коллагеном в водных средах. Изучен вклад различных факторов, в т. ч. пониженного давления, УФ-излучения, взаимодействия активных компонентов плазмы с поверхностью полимеров, на потерю растворимости. Установлено, что образование нерастворимой в воде фракции хитозансодержащих пленочных образцов после обработки в плазме связано в основном с воздействием УФ-излучения, однако определенную роль играет воздействие электронов и ионов, а также пониженное давление.

The modification of polyvinyltrimethylsilane under treatment by direct-current discharge at a reduced pressure has been investigated. Polymer films were placed at the anode and cathode, and filtered atmospheric air was used as a process gas. It has been found that the discharge treatment imparts the property of hydrophilicity to the surface of the samples. The chemical composition of the untreated and modified films was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and their morphology was studied by atomic force microscopy. It has been shown that plasma treatment leads to the formation of a layer chemically close to silicon dioxide on the surface and increases the roughness of the surface of polyvinyltrimethylsilane.

Исследована эффективность обработки пленок полилактида в плазме пониженного давления для последующей иммобилизации коллагена. Показано, что модифицирование в плазме приводит к травлению, образованию функциональных групп и гидрофилизации поверхности полимерных пленок, а также является эффективным подходом к ее активированию перед нанесением биоактивных покрытий из коллагена.