Effect of Low-Temperature Plasma on Polyketone Films: Changes in the Chemical Structure and Surface Morphology

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to study the change in the chemical composition of the surface of polyketone films as a result of exposure to a low-pressure direct-current (DC) discharge. The films were placed at the anode and cathode; filtered atmospheric air was used as a working gas. It was shown that a significant number of oxygen-containing groups is formed on the polymer surface. An atomic force microscopy study detected that plasma treatment leads to a considerable increase in the surface roughness of the films. Such changes improve the contact and adhesion properties of polyketone films.