aP.G Department of Physics, Vellalar College for Women, Erode, India.
bP. G and Research Department of Physics, Kongunadu Arts and Science College, Coimbatore, India.
*Corresponding Author: E-mail: .
Cold plasma treatment has become a versatile technique for enhancing surface chemistries of polymers without bulk alteration. This treatment is significant in bringing microscopic and macroscopic surface changes without mortifying the polymer. With bulk properties remaining the same, surface modified polymers have many practical applications. Polystyrene is an extensively used polymer. It is used in packaging industry and has domestic and biomedical applications. This paper details the effects of cold plasma treatment on polystyrene thin film and antibacterial activity of the polystyrene thin film after plasma treatment. Cold plasma, which is produced in a glow discharge d.c plasma chamber, is used to modify the surface of the fabricated polystyrene thin film. Polystyrene thin films were treated in cold plasma for different exposure times with an applied voltage of 350V to the electrodes and a pressure of 0.8mb maintained in the chamber. The surface properties were characterized by FTIR, SEM and wettability studies. The antibacterial activity was studied by Agar Diffusion Test. Results show introduction of hydroxyl group, increase in hydrophyllicity, very weak roughness change and antibacterial activity of polystyrene thin film surface after plasma treatment.
Cold plasma, fabrication, plasma chamber, hydrophyllicity, antibacterial
