Surface Segregation and Plasma Oxidation of Polyethylene−Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Copolymer Doped Polyethylene Films

The surface enrichment of polyethylene−poly(dimethylsiloxane) (ABA) doped polyethylene films has been investigated by XPS, AFM, and contact angle measurements. The poly(dimethylsiloxane) copolymer is found to readily undergo surface segregation during annealing to produce a well-adhered polysiloxane-rich layer. Subsequent oxygen plasma exposure leads to conversion of the surface to SiO x with a concomitant increase in hydrophilicity. Pulsing the electrical discharge is found to significantly accentuate this behavior.