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Surface Modification of Natural Rubber by Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) Plasma Treatment: A New Approach to Improve Mechan...
ISSN: 2369 - 3355Publisher: author   
Surface Modification of Natural Rubber by Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) Plasma Treatment: A New Approach to Improve Mechan...
Indexed in
Technology and Engineering
ARTICLE-FACTOR
1.3
Article Basics Score: 2
Article Transparency Score: 3
Article Operation Score: 3
Article Articles Score: 3
Article Accessibility Score: 2
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International Category Code (ICC):
ICC-1802
Publisher: Lifescience Global Inc.
International Journal Address (IAA):
IAA.ZONE/2369108303355
eISSN
:
2369 - 3355
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Abstract
Plasma treatments have faced growing interest as important strategy to modify the hydrophobic/hydrophilic characteristics of materials. However, challenges related to the plasma modification of polymers are the improvement of the chemical resistance without decreasing the mechanical resistance. In this letter, we present for the first time a plasma treatment, using Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), analogous to vulcanization process, of natural rubber surface, which resulted in a chemical and tension resistance improvements. The natural rubber membranes were coated with glow discharge plasmas generated in sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) atmospheres at a total pressure of 160 mTorr and applying 70 W of radiofrequency. Plasma treatment increases the contact angles from 64° to 125° i.e. leading to a hydrophobic surface. The tension at rupture increased from 3.7 to 6.1 MPa compared to natural rubber without plasma treatment demonstrated by stress-stra...