N2 And O2 Coatings of AFX Membranes By Microwave Discharge

N₂ and O₂ discharge microwave plasma system is considered on coating AFX type membranes which are much less harmful to the environment, and are becoming key ingredients in ecologically sound emulsion polymer solutions. 2.45 GHz magnetron driven Electron Cyclotron Resonance – ECR type plasma reactor having a density in the order of ~10¹⁸ electrons/m³ at 400mT has been used for coating. It is obtained that O₂ discharge makes the surface of polymer much faster than N₂ discharge. Three to four minutes of treatment is defined as the optimum treatment time for polymer surface coating. SEM pictures of those discharge treated and none treated showed that there are no physical damages but some chemical reactions.

Representations at figure are; upper left shows an untreated membrane, upper right 200 seconds O2 treated membrane, lower left 200 seconds N2 treated membrane.  It is seen that O2 and N2 discharge effects are different than each other. After 200s of plasma treatment for both N2 and O2 discharges, the surface layer of polymer was removed and upper particles became visible [upper right and lower left figure].  N2 is more effective than oxygen for the same discharge treatment that there more visible upper particles. The upper particle layers shrink together for longer plasma exposures that hardly distinguishable.