Surface modification of PMMA polymer in the interaction with oxygen-argon RF plasma

In this experimental research the effects of oxygen-argon plasma on the structure and morphology of Poly Methyl Methacrylate (PMMA) polymer doped with orange L-3R dye is investigated. Samples with 0.2 mm thickness were produced by drying the solution of PMMA granule in dichloromethane. Experiment was carried out in a low pres-sure chamber with plane electrodes. Plasma was generated with a RF source of 13.56 MHz frequency at 70 W out-put power. Samples were exposed to different fraction of oxygen-argon plasma for 5 minutes. Based on AFM results surface roughness of samples is significantly altered and the water contact angle is decreased noticeably. With increasing oxygen in the working gas up to 80% the structure of polymer surface and its surface energy are increased leads to removal of grooves on polymer samples. Change of absorption coefficient and the energy gaps of treated polymers are calculated from their UV-NIR-VIS transmission spectrum.