The treatment of elastomer articles in a low-temperature glow-discharge plasma in fluorinated organics is an effective method for the enhancement of their wear resistance without changing the formulation of rubbers. As a result of plasma-assisted deposition on an elastomer of a fluorinated antifriction film chemically bound to the substrate, the elastomer friction coefficient is considerably decreased, sticking to a counterface is prevented, and the wear resistance of the elastomer is enhanced, retaining their bulk properties. Based on the study of the structure of the antifriction film at different modification stages and its transformation during friction, a conclusion on the mechanism of elastomer surface failure under dynamic friction conditions was made.

In this paper are discussed some of the fundamental principles which are relevant to an understanding of the influence that interfacial roughness may have on adhesion. The surface energies of the adhesive, substrate and of the interface between them determine the extent of wetting or spreading at equilibrium. Numerical values for surface energies may be obtained either from contact angle measurements or from analysing force–displacement curves obtained from the surface forces apparatus. The extent to which the relationships, appropriate for plane surfaces, may be modified to take into account interfacial roughness are discussed. For modest extents of roughness, the application of a simple roughness factor may be satisfactory, but this is unrealistic for many of the practical surfaces of relevance to adhesive technology which are very rough, and is ultimately meaningless, if the surface is fractal in nature. Some examples are discussed of published work involving polymer–metal and polymer–polymer adhesion, where the roughness of the interface exerts a significant influence on the adhesion obtained. Roughness over a range of scales from microns to nanometres may strengthen an interface, increasing fracture energy by allowing bulk energy dissipating processes to be activated when the bond is stressed.

Poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-perfluoro [alkyl vinyl ether]) (PFA) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) films were treated by three kinds of atmospheric pressure glow plasmas: an untreated sample was treated by He plasma or trimethoxyborane (TMB)/H₂/He plasma, and a TMB-absorbed sample was treated by H₂/He plasma. TMB was a new reactant for the treatment, to increase the films’ adhesive strength with an epoxy glue. These films were also treated by a wet method using a sodium solution (Tetra-Etch compound) and such films were used as the control samples. The peel strength values of the controls of PFA and PTFE were 3.5 and 9.5 N cm⁻¹, respectively. The adhesive strengths of all plasma-treated PFAs were stronger than those of untreated one. Especially, the peel strength of the TMB/H₂/He plasma-treated PFA showed the maximum value of 4.5 N cm⁻¹, which was bigger than that of the control one. The adhesive strength of the TMB/H₂/He plasma-treated PTFE films also showed the maximum peel strength, 7.9 N cm⁻¹, but this value did not exceed that of the control PTFE. Such results suggested that the TMB/H₂/He plasma had the advantage of providing better adhesive improvement of those polymers, especially PFA than the wet method could provide. The results of XPS and SEM indicated that TMB actively removed fluorine atoms from the polymer surface. Therefore, boron compounds are effective for the improvement of the adhesive strength between the fluorinated polymer and the epoxy glue.

A styrene-butadiene-styrene (S6) rubber was treated with corona discharge to increase its surface energy and adhesion to polyurethane (PU) adhesive. The influence of the length of treatment (the speed of the upper plate was varied from 80 to 900cm/min) during corona discharge was analyzed. The corona energy applied to S6 rubber surface ranged from 0.4 to 4.6J/cm ² . The surface modifications produced as a consequence of the corona discharge were characterized immediately after treatment was carried out and were monitored by means of different surface analysis techniques, mainly contact angle measurements (ethylene glycol, 25 ^o C), ATR-IR spectroscopy, XPS and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). T-peel tests of corona-discharge-treated S6-rubber/polyurethane (PU) adhesive/leather joints (72h after joint formation) were carried out to evaluate the influence of the surface modifications produced by the corona discharge on the adhesion properties of the treated S6 rubber.The corona discharge improved the wettability of the S6 rubber due to the formation of polar moieties, mainly C-O, C=O and COO ^- groups. These chemical modifications were not detected by ATR-IR spectroscopy (depth of analysis about 5μm), indicating that a nanometer-range oxidized layer was created on the S6 rubber surface by treatment with corona discharge. Besides, surface cleaning and removal of rubber contaminants (mainly silicon moieties) were produced but roughness was not created as a consequence of the treatment. These modifications were enhanced when a low speed treatment (long treatment and high corona energy) was carried out. Peel strength values of corona-discharge-treated S6 rubber/PU adhesive/leather joints only moderately increased (mainly for long length of the corona discharge). Although corona treatment chemically modified the surface of the S6 rubber, the absence of surface roughness might likely be responsible for the slight improvement in its adhesion properties.

In order to investigate the effect of atmospheric pressure plasmas on adhesion between aramid fibers and epoxy, aramid fibers were treated with atmospheric pressure helium/air for 15, 30 and 60 s on a capacitively-coupled device at a frequency of 5.0 kHz and He outlet pressure of 3.43 kPa. SEM analysis at 10 000× magnification showed no significant surface morphological change resulted from the plasma treatments. XPS analysis showed a decrease in carbon content and an increase in oxygen content. Deconvolution analysis of C1s, N1s and O1s peaks showed an increase in surface hydroxyl groups that can interact with epoxy resin. The microbond test showed that the plasma treatment for 60 s increased interfacial shear strength by 109% over that of the control (untreated). The atmospheric pressure plasma increased single fiber tensile strength by 16-26%.

In this paper, we report and discuss a surface treatment method, using a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) of random filamentary type. This offers a convenient, reliable and economic alternative for the controlled modification (so far, largely dependent on surface oxidation) of various categories of material surfaces. Remarkably uniform treatment and markedly stable modified surface properties result over the entire area of the test surfaces exposed to the discharge even at transit speeds simulating those associated with continuous on-line processing. The effects of air-DBD treatment on the surfaces of various polymer films and polymer-based fabrics were studied. The dielectric barrier concerned has been characterized in terms of the energy deposited by the discharge at the processing electrodes and the resultant modifications of the surface properties of the treated samples were investigated using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, contact angle/wickability measurement and scanning electron microscopy. The influence of the surface treatment parameters, such as the energy deposited by the discharge, the inter-electrode gap and the treatment time were examined and related to the post-treatment surface characteristics of the materials processed. Relationships between the processing parameters and the properties of the DBD treated samples were thus established. Of the three process variables investigated, the duration of the treatment was found to have a more significant effect on the surface modifications found than did the discharge energy or the inter-electrode gap. Very short air-DBD treatments (fractions of a second in duration) markedly and uniformly modified the surface characteristics for all the materials treated, to the effect that wettability, wickability and the level of oxidation of the surface appear to be increased strongly within the first 0.1–0.2 s of treatment. Any subsequent surface modification following longer treatment (>1.0 s) was less important. The modification of the surface properties also appears to be stable with time, as minimal recovery of the surface properties is shown on ageing post-treatment. The behaviour of the woven textile polymers examined was found to be very similar, under DBD treatment, to that of thin-film variants based on the same polymers. For the porous textile fabrics examined, rapid and efficient treatment (fractions of a second) on both sides of the treated samples was found to be ensured. Thereby the system regime used offers the attractive prospect of controlling the modification of non-compact materials of various texture, porosity, etc. The DBD described system thus provides a chemically mild and mechanically non-destructive means of altering surface properties targeting improved surface characteristics and potentially better application performance.

The effects of low-molecular-weight oxidized materials generated by corona treatment on the adhesion properties of polypropylene (PP) film were investigated by adhering four different materials to the modified PP: a polyamide printing ink, vapor-coated aluminum, a synthetic-rubber pressure-sensitive adhesive, and an acrylate-based pressure-sensitive adhesive. The low-molecularweight materials enhanced the adhesion of the ink and acrylate-based material, but hindered the adhesion of the metal and the rubber-based adhesive. This seemingly contradictory adhesion behavior can be readily explained using the principles outlined by Brewis and Briggs in the 1980s.

The flame treatment of polypropylene (PP) film involves the use of impinging, conical flames to oxidize the surface of the PP. Depending on treatment conditions, the PP film can be exposed to an inhomogeneous environment because of the conical shape of the flames. This environment can lead to cross-web variations, or 'lanes', in the wettability of the film. We have developed a simple method to quantify these non-uniformities using the information provided by the Wilhelmy plate technique of dynamic contact angle measurement. Both surface-averaged and spatially resolved surface-energy data can be obtained by this technique. In the case of our PP film, the spatial nonuniformities were found to be caused by variations in surface chemistry, not topography. These nonuniformities are not observed on untreated PP. Use of this method enables a quantitative evaluation of the effects of flame-treatment process variables on treatment uniformity.

Oriented polypropylene treated by atmospheric barrier discharges in air and nitrogen was investigated using several techniques: contact angle measurements, ATR-FT-IR spectroscopy and two adhesion tests based on the stripping of an applied ink layer. The activation in an air discharge was found to be much weaker compared to the activation in industrial grade nitrogen, particularly with respect to adhesion. The adhesion was found to be much better in nitrogen in spite of the common use of air in industrial 'corona discharges'. A new 'abrasive shear-stripping' (AS) test for ink coating adhesion was designed and performed. It was shown that the AS test was much more sensitive than the classical adhesive tape test and was sensitive enough to monitor ageing and overtreatment. The contact angle measurements did not correlate completely with the adhesion properties and could not monitor the overtreatment, while the ATR-FT-IR technique indicated changes just for overtreated foils.

Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) material containing 20 wt% vinyl acetate (EVA20) was treated with corona discharge to improve its adhesion to polychloroprene adhesive. Several experimental variables in the corona discharge treatment of EVA20 were considered: corona energy, type of electrode, and number of consecutive treatments. Advancing contact angle measurements (water, 25°C) showed an increase in the wettability of EVA20 after treatment with corona discharge, which corresponds to an increase in the O/C ratio on the treated surface. The higher the corona energy (i.e. the higher discharge power and longer treatment times), the greater the degree of surface oxidation. Peel strength values of the joints produced with EVA20 using a polychloroprene adhesive containing 5 wt% isocyanate increased from 1.5 kN/m (as-received EVA20) to 4.3 kN/m (corona-treated EVA20). A mixed (adhesional + cohesive in EVA20) locus of failure was obtained in all adhesive joints produced with corona discharge-treated EVA20. Finally, the number of consecutive corona discharge treatments and the surface area of the electrode (spherical versus hook-shaped electrode) did not greatly influence the adhesion of EVA20 to polychloroprene adhesive.

In order to explore the fundamental mechanism of paint adhesion to polymer substrates the surface of polypropylene- ethylene propylene rubber (PP-EPR) blends was modified by flame or plasma treatments. The changes in surface composition and properties were investigated and discussed in light of the results of simple adhesion tests. The topography and surface properties of the PP-EPR samples were studied by employing various surface sensitive techniques. Additionally, the surface properties of the pre-treated PP-EPR were compared with the model polymers poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polycarbonate (PC) displaying a poor and an excellent paint adhesion, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements showed that the miscibility of the polymer substrate with paint components was an essential factor for the understanding of the adhesion mechanism. A general model of paint adhesion to polymer surfaces is proposed, where the degree of interdiffusion of the polymer chains of the substrate and paint in the interphase determines the adhesion strength.

Atmospheric pressure plasmas are commonly used to improve the wetting and adhesion properties of polymers. In spite of their use, the mechanisms for achieving these properties are unclear. In this regard, we report on a computational investigation of the gas phase and surface kinetics during humid-air corona treatment of polypropylene (PP) and the resulting modification of its surface properties while varying energy deposition, relative humidity (RH), web speed, and gas temperature. Using results from a global plasma chemistry model validated against experiments, we found that increasing energy deposition increased the densities of alcohol, carbonyl, acid, and peroxy radicals on the PP surface. In doing so, significant amounts of gas phase O₃ and N_xO_y are produced. Increasing the RH increased the production of peroxy and acid groups, while decreasing those of alcohol and carbonyl groups. Production of O₃ decreased while that of HNO₃ increased. Increasing the temperature decreased the concentrations of alcohol, carbonyl, and acid groups on PP while those of the peroxy radicals increased. For a given energy deposition, higher web speeds resulted in decreased concentrations of alcohols, peroxy radicals, carbonyl, and acid groups on PP.

According to the general guidelines presented in the accompanying paper, some relevant examples of common polymer surfaces are analysed and discussed; a number of polymers commercially available or laboratory synthesized have been analysed. In particular, the case of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), often considered as peculiar in the literature, is fully analysed on the basis of a new set of well-prepared samples, whose compositions were checked by high-vacuum spectroscopies. 'Equilibrium' contact angles, obtained by a new experimental technique, are presented. The results are, however, preliminary, because the final set of liquids used is not so 'well equilibrated' as possible, from the point of view of acid–base properties. The contact angle data obtained are analysed in a non-linear way to calculate the acid–base components of all the liquids and solids. The results are discussed and compared with those obtained from liquid–liquid interfaces presented in the accompanying paper. The physico-chemical features of these samples have also been compared with the adhesion properties of some bacterial cells, commonly found as infective agents on biomaterials surfaces of medical devices, in order to rationalize these results within the theoretical framework of acid–base theory.

Metallization techniques based on electroless plating are widely used to coat polymer materials in a large variety of technological applications. Traditionally, dilute tin chloride (SnCl₂) and palladium chloride (PdCl₂) solutions in HCl are used to render the surface of such non-conductive substrates catalytically active towards metal deposition in the electroless plating solution. In the present work, it is shown how X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has allowed to monitor the chemical and compositional surface modifications of polymer substrates (polypropylene, polycarbonate) subjected to plasma and UV or VUV irradiation (use of ArF^* excimer laser and Xe₂^* incoherent excimer lamp, respectively) in oxygenated (O₂, air) or nitrogenated (N₂, NH₃) atmospheres, as well as to understand the mechanisms of the catalyst (palladium species) chemisorption on the so-grafted surfaces through the use of a simple dilute palladium chloride solution in HCl. In addition, this work has allowed to bring into light the precise role that the reducer plays (sodium hypophosphite) present in the electroless nickel bath. In short, this research has been successful in allowing the development of new approaches for the electroless metallization of polymer surfaces.

Two ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers (12 and 20 wt% of vinyl acetate,VA, content) have been treated with low pressure RF plasmas from non-oxidizing gases (Ar, N₂) and oxidizing gases (air, a mixture of 4N₂: 6O₂ (v/v), O₂ and CO₂). The formation of polar moieties on both EVAs was more noticeable by treatment with plasmas from non-oxidizing gases than from oxidizing ones (the higher the reactivity, the lower the difference with respect to untreated EVA surfaces). The surface etching with the non-oxidizing plasmas, giving rise to a high roughness, depends on the wt% of VA in the composition of the copolymer because of the different resistances of VA (low) and PE (high) to the non-oxidizing plasma particles bombardment. The adhesion properties obtained using a polyurethane adhesive (PU) showed high T-peel strength values and adhesion failure in EVAs treated with plasmas from oxidizing gases, due to roughness produced causing mechanical interlocking of the adhesive. Lower T-peel strength values were obtained with non-oxidizing plasmas: the values for EVA12 being, in general, lower than those obtained for EVA20. The durability of the treated EVAs/PU adhesive joints after ageing in humidity and temperature was quite good.

Although an adhesive joint can distribute load over a larger area than a mechanical joint, requires no holes, adds very little weight to structures and has superior fatigue resistance, it requires careful surface preparation of adherends for reliable joining and low susceptibility to service environments. The load transmission capability of adhesive joints can be improved by increasing the surface free energy of the adherends with suitable surface treatments. In this study, two types of surface treatment, namely the low pressure and the atmospheric pressure plasma treatment, were performed to enhance the mechanical load transmission capabilities of carbon/epoxy composite adhesive joints. The suitable surface treatment conditions for carbon/epoxy composite adhesive joints for both low and atmospheric pressure plasma systems were experimentally investigated with respect to chamber pressure, power intensity and surface treatment time by measuring the surface free energies of the specimens. The change in surface topography of carbon/epoxy composites was measured with AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy) and quantitative surface atomic concentrations were determined with XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy) to investigate the failure modes of composite adhesive joints with respect to surface treatment time. From the XPS investigation of carbon/epoxy composites, it was found that the ratio of oxygen concentration to carbon concentration for both low and atmospheric pressure plasma-treated carbon/epoxy composite surfaces was maximum after about 30 s treatment time, which corresponded with the maximum load transmission capability of the composite adhesive joint.

The validity and the accuracy of both the Owens and Wendt and the Lifshitz–van der Waals/acid–base (LW/AB) methods for the determination of surface tensions of solids have been examined for a wide variety of situations. In each case, the allowed range of contact angles that result in positive values of all the square roots of the surface tension components of the solid has first been determined. Then the maximum relative errors in the surface tensions of solids that result from errors in contact angle measurements have been calculated within the allowed range. For both methods, it has been found that the maximum relative errors are minimal if one of the liquids is apolar. In the case of the LW/AB method, minimal errors are obtained if, in addition, the other two liquids are monopolar with different polarities. However, the more similar are the properties of the liquids, the narrower is the allowed range, and the larger are the maximum relative errors.

The influence of the pulsed CO₂ laser irradiation on the surface structure of the LDPE film was investigated. Significant changes were observed on the surface of laser treated films as it was verified by the attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR–FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and contact angle-measurement. Formation of polar functional groups onto the LDPE surfaces exhibited by the ATR–FTIR spectra was shown to be strongly dependent on the number of the CO2 laser pulses. The intensity of the polar groups increased with increasing the number of pulses up to two and then slightly decreased at three laser pulses. This was also confirmed with the contact angle measurements in which the sample subjected to two laser pulses showed the highest wettability i.e. the lowest water drop contact angle. The concentration of peroxide groups formed on the surface of the laser treated films was determined quantitatively by UV spectroscopic method using iodide procedure. The latter results showed a similar trend with the results obtained using FTIR spectroscopy.

Hydrophobic polymer materials having improved dyeability with water-based dyes are prepared by treating a hydrophobic polymer with aglow discharge plasma generated from working gases selected from SO₂, O₂, N₂, He, H₂, CO₂, CF₄, NO, N₂O, 2-Hydroxypropyl Methacrylate (HPMA), air or combinations thereof, in which a treated material comprises a hydrophobic inner core and a hydrophilic outer sheath having polar functional groups. A method of treating hydrophobic polymer materials using a glow discharge plasma, preferably at high pressure (e.g., about 50 Torr or greater), thereby modifying the active surface characteristics of the polymer to contain polar functional groups is also presented.

In accordance with the present invention, a directed plasma beam is employed in air to selectively remove coatings from paper products at high production rates. The shape and intensity of the beam is controlled to obtain a controlled rate of removal of the coating. The method does not require vacuum to be established and allows for the plasma to be generated from high pressure air.

An 18 μm nonmetallized polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) film is treated in radio frequency (RF) plasma before a point-to-grid corona charged. The isothermal (170°C) surface potential measurement shows that the surface charge stability is significantly dependent on the plasma sources and treatment conditions. Oxygen (O₂), oxygen/helium (O₂/He) mixture gases and helium (He) plasma treatment enhance the film negative charge stability significantly but not hydrogen (H₂) plasma. Electron spectroscopy chemical analysis confirms that this superior negative charge retention for O₂ plasma treatment is a result of the high concentration of oxide groups on the subsurface during the plasma treatment.

A method and device of treating an irregularly shaped article to prepare the article for painting is provided. The device includes a burner which can produce an adjustable flame tongue which can fit into crevices, openings and other irregular topographical features of an item to be painted or otherwise coated. The burner device further provides means to apply a grafting chemical on a freshly oxidized surface. Further, the invention provides means to colorize treated objects so that they may be recognized as having been treated. In another embodiment, the grafting chemicals may be enhanced with electrolytic solutions such that electrostatic methods of painting may be subsequently employed on the item. In an alternate embodiment, the burner is adapted to spray a powder inside of a generally enclosed flame, and is used in conjunction with chop guns to manufacture glass or carbon fiber preforms. In a preferred embodiment all of the main systems of the present invention are provided with redundancies that allow the continuous operation of the device. Further, the device provides means to run and modify the process either locally or by remote communication means.

The surface modification of high density polyethylene by a CO₂ microwave plasma is described with the aim of fixing carboxylic groups. The characterization is discussed in terms of functionalization, degradation, crystallization and cross-linking. The formation of carboxylic acids seems mainly favored by the presence of the CO₂ active species. The degradation leading via chain scissions to the formation of volatile byproducts is shown to be heterogeneous by mainly affecting amorphous zones. The structural modification is associated with a twisting motion of macromolecular chains having defects to more organized conformations. Finally, cross-linking appears weak due to the absence of chromophoric sites and of VUV radiations in the plasma.

Metallized polymer or polymer-based materials are used in a large range of electronics applications including the fabrication of ohmic contacts, chip-level interconnects, printed circuit boards and shielded materials.^1–7 For such technological applications, electroless deposition is the most widely used method in practice today.⁸ Basically, electroless plating is an autocatalytic redox process occurring in aqueous solution between ions of the metal to be deposited (generally Ni or Cu) and a strong reducer. Typical procedures involve a variety of multi-step sequences for the preparation of the surfaces to be coated. Conventionally, substrates are cleaned with solvents to remove surface contaminants, chemically etched to obtain a micro-roughened oxidized surface, and then seeded with a catalyst such as palladium. Chronologically, the seeding process was first accomplished by using a two-step procedure involving substrate treatment successively in dilute SnC1₂ (sensitization step) and PdC1₂ (activation step) acidic solutions. Further, a one-step procedure using a colloidal suspension containing both Sn and Pd species (a SnC1₂/PdC1₂ acidic solution) has been developed and is presently in common use in industrial environments. In this last case, the Pd/Sn colloidal particles adsorbed on the polymer surface must be exposed (acceleration step) to a solubilizer (a HCl or NaOH solution) to remove the excess of Sn⁺² species surrounding the catalytic Pd-based core of the colloidal particles. As can easily be inferred from the details of such multi-step procedures, it is today highly desirable to develop alternative approaches for making the insulating surfaces catalytically active. These approaches should require no chemical surface etching, reduce the number of process steps, and provide a highly selective, well-defined interaction between the catalytic species and the surface to be coated.⁹

The wet adhesion of water borne acrylic dispersions is a crucial factor on the performance of outdoor coatings on wood. Pine sapwood was treated with several methods for surface activation to increase the wet adhesion of water borne acrylic dispersions. The wet adhesion was measured by pull-off tests as well as with a modified cross-cut test. Atmospheric plasma, corona treatment and fluorination increased the wet adhesion of the coating which is attributed to the increasing polar portion of the surface free energy. Other ways of improving the wet adhesion are the addition of promotors, the use of primers and organisational improvements.

The rf power was modulated (discharge on-time of 10 μs and discharge off-time of 50–500 μs), for pulsed argon (Ar) and oxygen (O₂) plasmas used to irradiate PET film surfaces to modify the film surfaces. From data regarding the contact angle for the modified PET film surfaces and chemical analyses with XPS, effects of the rf power modulation on the surface modification are discussed. The pulsed Ar and O₂ plasmas are effective in modification of the PET film surface. There is no difference in the contact angle between the pulsed plasma and the continuous plasma. Furthermore, the pulsed Ar plasma is advantageous in formation of hydroxyl groups on the PET film surfaces. The rf power modulation has a possibility to modify into peculiar surfaces. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 85: 2845–2852, 2002
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/app.10865

The changes of contact angle (θ) and surface free energy (γS) under low-temperature air plasma in the polymers of different chemical structure and polarity (polyethylene, PE; polypropylene, PP; poly(ethylene terephtalate), PET and poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA) pointed out to the greater effect of short-time plasma action (5–15 s) on these parameters as compared to longer times of exposure.

The non-reversion effect of θ changes caused by plasma in PE and PP suggests that the oxidation processes mainly decide about values in nonpolar polymers. The significantly greater θ changes in PE than those in PP indicate that the side groups present in the main chains impede oxidation of such a polymer by plasma.

The reversion of θ changes in PET and in PMMA, and return of these values to almost the initial ones after 10 min storage proves that the main reason for θ changes in polar polymers is a certain alteration of the chain conformation.

These changes, taking place after longer plasma treatment, suggest that the side ester groups in PMMA retard the above-mentioned conformational transformations. Then, in both kinds of polymers (polar and nonpolar) the structure of macrochain decides about the efficiency of reaction caused by plasma, and at the same time the side groups retard not only the oxidation processes but the conformational changes as well.