X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy investigation and characterisation of plasma polymerised isocyanatoethyl methacrylate

Abstract Various polymeric and non-polymeric samples were modified by means of plasma polymerisation of isocyanatoethyl methacrylate (IEM) vapour in mixture with argon. The aim of the work was to find the best experimental conditions and compare the down-stream plasma polymerisation and pulsed plasma polymerisation techniques. The IEM was chosen for superior reactivity of its isocyanato group (–N=C=O), predominantly towards amino terminated compounds. A tubular reactor with the external radio frequency (27.12 MHz) excitation was used. Surface modification was performed at various distances from the plasma zone (from 0 to 50 cm) in down-stream set-up and at different duty cycles (from continuous wave to 1:20 m s) in pulsed reactor set-up. Modified surfaces were investigated in detail by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The best correlation among the IEM reference and plasma polymerised IEM was obtained for 20–30 cm distance under the down-stream conditions and at 1:20 m s for the pulsed power conditions, giving a comprehensive picture of those two plasma deposition technique.