Reptation Aggregation of Liquid Silicon Oils Modified by Ar Plasmas

The aggregation behavior of silicone oil polymers exposed to Ar plasmas was investigated. A reptation aggregation related to the viscosity of silicone oil was found. The viscosity dependence η ∼ Lb on the reptation length L with b = 3.37 in the viscous coefficient range of 20 and 500 mm2 · s−1 was obtained. The formation of reptation aggregation is thought to relate to the gradient viscosity in the vertical direction due to crosslinking and formation of SiO network at the surfaces of silicone oils induced by energetic ions bombardment and the vacuum‐ultraviolet irradiation, as well as the temperature gradient in vertical direction induced by energetic ions bombardment. Ar plasma treatments can induce a reptation aggregation in the liquid silicone oils. The reptation follows a η ∼ Lb dependence between the viscous coefficient (η) and the reptation length (L) with b = 3.37 in the η range of 20 and 500 mm2 · s−1. The crosslinking and formation of Si − O networks due to the energetic ions bombardment and VUV irradiation are a possible factors for the observed reptation.