Plasma Polymerization of 3-Aminopropyltrietoxysilane (APTES) by Open-Air Atmospheric Arc Plasma Jet for In-Line Treatments
Abstract
In this work, an open-air arc plasma jet has been studied to polymerize
3-aminopropyelthrietoxysilane (APTES), which is the most commonly used aminosilane
to functionalize surfaces with amine groups. Although
the discharge produced from air is highly oxidative
and the gas temperature is high as compared to other
atmospheric plasma sources, amine groups, as well as
amide ones, were identified in the nanometers thick
coatings by XPS and FTIR analysis. By comparing the
results with post-treatment and -grafting experiments,
the partial retention of amine groups might
be explained by the non-ideal mixing of the precursor
flow with the main gas stream inside the plasma jet.
Beside the intrinsic plasma reactivity, hydrodynamics
effects are indeed important when considering flowing
atmospheric plasmas.