In Situ Study of The Exposure of Polycarbonate to an Argon Plasma

ABSTRACTThe exposure of polycarbonate to an argon plasma is studied using in situ ellipsometry from the UV to the IR, nuclear magnetic resonance and light scattering measurements. An increase in the refractive index and the existence of two populations of different molecular weights show that structural changes occur in the polymer. They are correlated with modifications at the polymer unit scale, such as formation of new polar groups and decrease in dimethyl groups. Two simultaneous reaction mechanisms must be considered to account for these changes. The adhesion of a silica layer on treated polycarbonate is then discussed.