Comparison Between Non-equilibrium Atmospheric-Pressure and Low-Pressure Plasma Treatments of Poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene) Elastomers

Low-pressure plasma generated in a typical parallel plate reactor and atmospheric pressure plasma produced by a plasma needle were utilized to modify the surface of poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene) (SBS) elastomers. An RF discharge (13.56 MHz) in helium was used in the both cases. The SBS surfaces were investigated by T-peel tests, contact-angle measurements, and IRS-FTIR spectroscopy. It has been found that such plasma treatments drastically improve the strength of adhesive-bonded joints between the SBS surfaces and polyurethane adhesives, however, the plasma needle operation has turned out to be more effective. The molecular processes proceeding on the SBS surfaces have been briefly discussed.