Investigation of the surface relief of polyalkaneimide composites after treatment with oxygen plasma

The paper presents data on the treatment of the flow of oxygen plasma of polyalkanimide and polyalkanimide composites. The hydrophobic SiO₂ was used as a filler. The fluency of oxygen atoms was 5.4 × 10¹⁸ at/cm² (equivalent to 10 years of exposure to atomic oxygen). Studies of the evolution of the surface relief of pure polyalkanimide and a composite containing 65 wt% SiO₂ under the action of oxygen plasma were performed by the probe method. It was shown that after oxygen plasma treatment of a sample of pure polyalkanimide or its composites, the surface acquires a peculiar grainy relief that was formed by depressions and elevated areas of conical and acicular shape oriented towards the flow of atomic oxygen. It has been established that the introduction of crystalline SiO₂ into polyalkanimide significantly increases the resistance of the polymer to the action of the oxygen plasma flow. Data on the change in the contact angle of wetting of the surface of polyalkanimide and polyalkanimide composites after treatment with an oxygen plasma flow are presented. (paper)