This new functionalization method consists of the deposition of very thin plasma polymer layers (20 to 100 nm) of functional group bearing monomers in pulsed plasma. With allylalcohol, a maximum of 30 OH groups per 100 C atoms was measured with a selectivity of about 90% and a significant stability at long-time exposure to air. Allylamine was used to produce primary amino groups, with a maximum of 18 NH2 groups per 100 C atoms. Side reactions were observed during the storage in air, such as oxidation of the amino groups. Carboxylic groups could be produced using acrylic acid with a maximum concentration of 24 COOH groups per 100 C atoms. The most prominent side reaction was the decarbonylation/ decarboxylation of the acid group during plasma deposition.___TAGSTART___BR___TAGEND___ The variation of the density of functional groups using the pulsed-plasma polymerization of functional-group-bearing monomers was possible by the chemically-initiated radical copolymerization with either a chain-extending monomer, such as ethylene, or a cross linker, such as butadiene, in plasma. The density of functional groups could be adjusted continuously (0 to 30 OH, 0 to 18 NH2 and 0 to 24 COOH groups per 100 C atoms).___TAGSTART___BR___TAGEND___ The successful application of these densely functionalized polymer surfaces for producing biocompatible surfaces and for use in metalpolymer composites is proposed.
Polymers synthesized with plasma techniques are very interesting materials for electronic, optic, and bio compatible applications. Thin films of plasma polymers shows a good adhesion to metals, glass, or other polymers. But the supramolecular structure, the durability, and the chemical and mechanical behavior of these polymers is poorly understood. Therefore dielectric investigations are carried out to study the dynamic behavior of the plasma polymers. As polymer system allyl alcohol/alkene is chosen to get polymers with a defined concentration of hydroxyl groups. The dielectric investigations shows several relaxation processes and a dependency of the dielectric parameters from the ratio of allyl alcohol in the polymer is observed. This results indicated that the alkene monomers were assembled continuous into the polymer matrix.