Surface Modification of Silicone Rubber After Corona Exposure

This paper describes the surface modification of high temperature vulcanized silicone rubber (HTV-SR) resulting from corona discharges under atmospheric pressure. In this study, a plate-shaped HTV-SR specimen was exposed to corona stress generated by a needles-plane electrode system; further, physicochemical analyses were conducted on the surface layer of SR before and after corona discharge treatment. The results showed that the plasma impingement from the corona discharge can cause physical and chemical damages to the SR surface. In addition, it was demonstrated that instead of hydrophobic CH3 groups, hydrophilic OH groups that are byproducts of ageing may be formed on the surface of aged SR; further, the corona discharge plays an important role in the loss of hydrophobicity.