Comparing efficiencies of polypropylene treatment by atmospheric pressure plasma jets

Plasma treatment of polypropylene (PP) is a well‐established method of improving its surface properties. However, the efficiencies of different plasma discharges are seldom compared. Herein, we discuss the differences in PP treated by three arc‐based commercial plasma jets working in dry air, Plasmatreat rotating plasma jet (PT‐RPJ), AFS PlasmaJet® (AFS‐PJ), and SurfaceTreat gliding arc jet (ST‐GA), and by the low‐temperature RF plasma slit jet (RF‐PSJ) working in argon. The AFS‐PJ has a significantly different reactive species composition dominated by nitrogen oxides. It induced higher thermal loads leading to surface damage. The other arc‐based jets (PT‐RPJ and ST‐GA) created the PP surface with higher oxygen and nitrogen concentration than the low‐temperature RF‐PSJ. It induced a higher adhesion strength measured on PP‐aluminum joints.