Plasma polymerization

Plasma polymerization (or glow discharge polymerization) uses plasma sources to generate a gas discharge that provides energy to activate or fragment gaseous or liquid monomer, often containing a vinyl group, in order to initiate polymerization. Polymers formed from this technique are generally highly branched and highly cross-linked, and adhere to solid surfaces well. The biggest advantage to this process is that polymers can be directly attached to a desired surface while the chains are growing, which reduces steps necessary for other coating processes such as grafting. This is very useful for pinhole-free coatings of 100 picometers to 1-micrometer thickness with solvent insoluble polymers.[1]

  1. ^ Yasuda, H. (1981). "Glow Discharge Polymerization". Journal of Polymer Science: Macromolecular Reviews. 16 (1): 199–293. doi:10.1002/pol.1981.230160104.