Effects of Electrical Discharges in Low Pressure Gases on the Morphology of Polyethylene Crystals

The attack, on the surface of a polymer, by the atomic, molecular and ionic species that are created in a low pressure electrical discharge in a gas is interesting because: 1) significant interior morphological features may be revealed, 2) dielectric breakdown of polymeric insulation on high voltage power distribution lines involves the attack on the polymer of such species created in a corona discharge, 3) adhesive bonds formed between polymer surfaces subjected to such SDecies are much stronger than bonds between untreated surfaces, 4) the chemical modification of the surface creates a reactive surface to which a thin layer of another polymer may be bonded by glow discharge polymerization.