COLD PLASMA GAS TYPE TREATMENT ON SURFACE CHARACTERISTIC OF POLY (ACRYLIC ACID-CO-METHYLMETHACRYLATE) HYDROGEL

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of cold plasma treatment on the surface characteristics of hydrogel films made from poly (acrylic acid-co-methyl methacrylate), these films were carried out by using four different gases, which are O2, N2, Co2, and untreated. Surface properties have been evaluated using photoelectron spectra (XPS), contact angles, attenuated total reflection (ATR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM images showed morphological changes, while the XPS results revealed the chemical composition of the surface treated with argon plasma. Consequently, the contact angle measurements of the hydrogel to water indicated a notable reduction in surface free energy after the argon plasma treatment. The surface free energy exhibited a positive correlation with the level of argon plasma treatment using various gases. This rise may be mostly attributed to the augmentation of polar constituents. The presence of oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface which was confirmed by XPS data had a crucial role in enhancing the hydrophilic characteristics of the hydrogel during the plasma oxidation process.