Modification of polymer surfaces by two‐step plasma sensitized reactions

New reaction products have been generated on polyethylene and polystyrene surfaces using a novel two‐step process. The first stage involves exposure to a downstream nitrogen plasma, and the second to either ozone or a corona discharge. It is observed that each of the two‐step reactions yields very different reaction products, with an apparent increase in the formation of CO functional groups in the former case and the formation of surface  NO 2 groups in the latter case.