scholarly journals Physico-Chemical Surface Modifications of Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) Using Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) Radiation and EUV-Induced Nitrogen Plasma

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 4466
Author(s):  
Joanna Czwartos ◽  
Bogusław Budner ◽  
Andrzej Bartnik ◽  
Przemysław Wachulak ◽  
Henryk Fiedorowicz ◽  
...  

In this work, the effect of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation and the combination of EUV radiation and low-temperature nitrogen plasma on the physico-chemical properties of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) surfaces were presented. The laser-plasma EUV source based on a double gas puff target was used in this experiment to irradiate PEEK surfaces with nanosecond pulses of EUV radiation and to produce low-temperature plasma through the photoionization of nitrogen with EUV photons. The changes in surface morphology on irradiated polymer samples were examined using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Chemical changes of the PEEK surfaces were analysed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). EUV radiation and nitrogen plasma treatment caused significant changes in the topography of modified PEEK’s surfaces and an increase in their average roughness. Strong chemical decomposition, appearance of new functional groups as well as incorporation of nitrogen atoms up to ~17 at.% on the PEEK’s surface were observed.

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (16) ◽  
pp. 8455
Author(s):  
Joanna Czwartos ◽  
Bogusław Budner ◽  
Andrzej Bartnik ◽  
Przemysław Wachulak ◽  
Beata A. Butruk-Raszeja ◽  
...  

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), due to its excellent mechanical and physico-chemical parameters, is an attractive substitute for hard tissues in orthopedic applications. However, PEEK is hydrophobic and lacks surface-active functional groups promoting cell adhesion. Therefore, the PEEK surface must be modified in order to improve its cytocompatibility. In this work, extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation and two low-temperature, EUV induced, oxygen and nitrogen plasmas were used for surface modification of polyetheretherketone. Polymer samples were irradiated with 100, 150, and 200 pulses at a 10 Hz repetition rate. The physical and chemical properties of EUV and plasma modified PEEK surfaces, such as changes of the surface topography, chemical composition, and wettability, were examined using atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and goniometry. The human osteoblast-like MG63 cells were used for the analysis of cell viability and cell adhesion on all modified PEEK surfaces. EUV radiation and two types of plasma treatment led to significant changes in surface topography of PEEK, increasing surface roughness and formation of conical structures. Additionally, significant changes in the chemical composition were found and were manifested with the appearance of new functional groups, incorporation of nitrogen atoms up to ~12.3 at.% (when modified in the presence of nitrogen), and doubling the oxygen content up to ~25.7 at.% (when modified in the presence of oxygen), compared to non-modified PEEK. All chemically and physically changed surfaces demonstrated cyto-compatible and non-cytotoxic properties, an enhancement of MG63 cell adhesion was also observed.


Author(s):  
Andrzej Bartnik ◽  
Wojciech Skrzeczanowski ◽  
Przemyslaw Wachulak ◽  
Tomasz Fok ◽  
Łukasz Węgrzyński ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 1642-1649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harol Moreno Fernández ◽  
Marco Zangrando ◽  
Guillaume Sauthier ◽  
Alejandro R. Goñi ◽  
Vincent Carlino ◽  
...  

The choice of a reflective optical coating or filter material has to be adapted to the intended field of application. This is mainly determined by the required photon energy range or by the required reflection angle. Among various materials, nickel and rhodium are common materials used as reflective coatings for (soft) X-ray mirrors. Similarly, aluminium is one of the most commonly used materials for extreme ultraviolet and soft X-ray transmission filters. However, both of these types of optics are subject to carbon contamination, which can be increasingly problematic for the operation of the high-performance free-electron laser and synchrotron beamlines. As an attempt to remove this type of contamination, an inductively coupled plasma source has been used in conjunction with N2/O2/H2 and N2/H2 feedstock gas plasmas. Results from the chemical surface analysis of the above materials before and after plasma treatment using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy are reported. It is concluded that a favorable combination of an N2/H2 plasma feedstock gas mixture leads to the best chemical surface preservation of Ni, Rh and Al while removing the carbon contamination. However, this feedstock gas mixture does not remove C contamination as rapidly as, for example, an N2/O2/H2 plasma which induces the surface formation of NiO and NiOOH in Ni and RhOOH in Rh foils. As an applied case, the successful carbon removal from ultrathin Al filters previously used at the FERMI FEL1 using an N2/H2 plasma is demonstrated.


1990 ◽  
Vol 22 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. G. Rouxhet ◽  
N. Mozes

The thermodynamic approach of adhesion and DLVO theory are complementary to predict initial bacterial adhesion; the interplay between short- and long-range forces, respectively, may be due to surface roughness. Due to the influence of electrical double layer interactions, adhesion can be promoted by treatments leading to modification of the cell or support surface properties. Adhesion is influenced by cell-cell interactions, by the cpresence of polymer molecules on the surface and by the composition of the medium. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy can be applied to determine the elemental composition of the surface of microorganisms; some information on the chemical functions can also be obtained. The surface composition is related to physico-chemical properties which play a determining role in adhesion and flocculation, in particular the hydrophobicity and the zeta potential.


2018 ◽  
Vol 284 ◽  
pp. 839-844 ◽  
Author(s):  
V.A. Lebedev ◽  
Andrey A. Shoppert

Modern aluminum electrolysis in cryolite-alumina melts is energy-intensive, inefficient and environmentally hazardous production. Addressing these significant shortcomings, the technology of low-temperature electrolyte is directed. The basis of low-temperature electrolysis is potassium cryolite, which results in high magnitude and rate of dissolution of alumina. Additive of sodium and lithium fluorides provide the necessary conductivity. Experimental investigation of these properties is extremely time consuming. In this work, as a parameter, which will allow to characterize effectively and rapidly the complexing ability of cryolite melts, the ratio of cationic ion power of Al3+ to the total power of the other cations of the melt is proposed. Regression analyses of the known experimental data establish the existence with a high level of reliability (R2=0.966-0.995) of a directly proportional dependence of this parameter on solubility of alumina and electrical conductivity of cryolite melts.


Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (24) ◽  
pp. 6564
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Górski ◽  
Ruslans Smigins ◽  
Rafał Longwic

Physico-chemical properties of diethyl ether/linseed oil (DEE/LO) fuel blends were empirically tested in this article for the first time. In particular, kinematic viscosity (ν), density (ρ), lower heating value (LHV), cold filter plugging point (CFPP) and surface tension (σ) were examined. For this research diethyl ether (DEE) was blended with linseed oil (LO) in volumetric ratios of 10%, 20% and 30%. Obtained results were compared with literature data of diethyl ether/rapeseed oil (DEE/RO) fuel blends get in previous research in such a way looking on differences also between oil types. It was found that DEE impacts significantly on the reduction of plant oil viscosity, density and surface tension and improve low temperature properties of tested oils. In particular, the addition of 10% DEE to LO effectively reduces its kinematic viscosity by 53% and even by 82% for the blend containing 30% DEE. Tested ether reduces density and surface tension of LO up to 6% and 25% respectively for the blends containing 30% DEE. The measurements of the CFPP showed that DEE significantly improves the low temperature properties of LO. In the case of the blend containing 30% DEE the CFPP can be lowered up to −24 °C. For this reason DEE/LO blends seem to be valuable as a fuel for diesel engines in the coldest season of the year. Moreover, DEE/LO blends have been tested in the engine research. Based on results it can be stated that the engine operated with LO results in worse performance compared with regular diesel fuel (DF). However, it was found that these disadvantages could be reduced with DEE as a component of the fuel mixture. Addition of this ether to LO improves the quality of obtained fuel blends. For this reason, the efficiency of DEE/LO blend combustion process is similar for the engine fuelled with regular diesel fuel. In this research it was confirmed that the smoke opacity reaches the highest value for the engine fuelled with plant oils. However, addition of 20% DEE reduces this emission to the value comparable for the engine operated with diesel fuel.


2011 ◽  
Vol 175-176 ◽  
pp. 312-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Ren ◽  
Jia Deng ◽  
Zhi Hong Li

In this paper, the polyester fiber surfaces were modified with the combined method of causticization and low-temperature plasma. The effect of Alkali pre-treatment on plasma treatment was studied to investigate the influence of the combined treatment on the properties of the polyester fibers. Through changing the process parameters, such as the temperature of causticization and the plasma treatment duration, the changes of weight loss, mechanical properties, wetting properties and dyeing properties of the polyester fibers after the causticization-plasma treatment were analyzed. In addition, the change of the surface morphology and chemical composition of the polyester fibers after the treatment was investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis respectively. The results showed that the wetting and dyeing properties of the polyester fibers were improved in a higher degree after causticization-plasma treatment than the causticization and plasma treatment independently. Meanwhile, the wetting and dyeing properties were improved more significantly with the increase of the causticization temperature in the causticization-plasma treatment. It was concluded that the pretreatment of the causticization before the low temperature plasma treatment can accelerate the etching and oxidization towards the polyester surface during the plasma treatment.


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