Improvement on PMMA surface breakdown using plasma immersion ion implantation

Polymer dielectrics are used in several areas. Previous works have shown a great influence of hydrophobicity on the surface breakdown (BD) voltage of some dielectrics. The use of energetic particles to modify polymer surfaces is a method widely employed. In this work, the surface of a poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) polymer sample has been modified by a treatment technique known as plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) in order to test its surface BD. After treatment by PIII, it was shown that the polymer resistance to the surface flashover was improved, which is important for insulators in space applications with partial vacuum in lower orbit satellites. The treated samples were characterized by means of contact angle and surface BD measurements to verify respectively changes on surface hydrophobicity and surface resistance to flashover. Surface BD measurements were carried out by using a special breakdown testing pulser.