Surface degradation properties of the polymer composite

In this study, heat and discharge treatments are arbitrary simulated for finding out the initiations and processes of surface degradation on the surface of polymer for using PCB substrate. Thermal-treatment changed the surface to the hydrophobic one with the increase of contact angle and surface potential decay respectively. In XPS spectrum to analyze surface chemical structures, the increased hydrophobicity in thermal treatment was originated from the continuous decrease of side-chains caused by oxygen groups and the increase of unsaturated double bond in carbon chains. In the chemical change of discharge treatment, a lot of side-chains comprising carboxyl radical occurred on the treated surface and the hydrophilicity increased as time elapsed.