Modification of isotactic poly(propylene) with a nitrogen plasma; differences in comparison to the treatment with a carbon dioxide plasma

The modification of isotactic poly(propylene) by nitrogen plasma treatment was studied in comparison to the use of a carbon dioxide plasma, which was reported earlier. The effect of the modification was characterized with secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) to a depth of 3 Å, with electronic spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) to a depth of 20 Å and with attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR) to a depth of 10 μm: the nitrogen plasma modification seems to be milder than the CO2 plasma treatment. Surface degradation is a minor reaction, and in an opposite manner, crosslinking and functionalization (formation of primary amino groups) are the most important reactions. Radicals, probably originating from the elimination of [methyl groups] along the polymer backbone, could induce these reactions.