• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.83-92
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• 2010

To improve the antifouling characteristics of polypropylene hollow fiber microporous membranes in a submerged membrane-bioreactor for wastewater treatment, the surface-modification was conducted by Ar plasma treatment. Surface hydrophilicity was assessed by water contact angle measurements. The advancing and receding water contact angles reduced after the surface modification, and hysteresis between the advancing and receding water contact angles was enlarged after Ar plasma treatment due to the increased surface roughness after surface plasma treatment. After continuous operation in a submerged membrane-bioreactor for about 55 h, the flux recovery after water cleaning and the flux ratio after fouling were improved by 20.0 and 143.0%, while the reduction of flux was reduced by 28.6% for the surface modified membrane after 1 min Ar plasma treatment, compared to those of the unmodified membrane. Morphological observations showed that the mean membrane pore size after Ar plasma treatment reduced as a result of the deposition of the etched species; after it was used in the submerged membrane-bioreactor, the further decline of the mean membrane pore size was caused by the deposition of foulants. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy confirmed that proteins and polysaccharide-like substances were the main foulants in the precipitate.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.103-120
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• 2010

Surface modification of microfiltration and ultrafiltration membranes has been widely used to improve the protein adsorption resistance and permeation properties of hydrophobic membranes. Several surface modification methods for converting conventional membranes into low-protein-binding membranes are reviewed. They are categorized as either physical modification or chemical modification of the membrane surface. Physical modification of the membrane surface can be achieved by coating it with hydrophilic polymers, hydrophilic-hydrophobic copolymers, surfactants or proteins. Another method of physical modification is plasma treatment with gases. A hydrophilic membrane surface can be also generated during phase-inverted micro-separation during membrane formation, by blending hydrophilic or hydrophilic-hydrophobic polymers with a hydrophobic base membrane polymer. The most widely used method of chemical modification is surface grafting of a hydrophilic polymer by UV polymerization because it is the easiest method; the membranes are dipped into monomers with and without photo-initiators, then irradiated with UV. Plasma-induced polymerization of hydrophilic monomers on the surface is another popular method, and surface chemical reactions have also been developed by several researchers. Several important examples of physical and chemical modifications of membrane surfaces for low-protein-binding are summarized in this article.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.12-22
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• 2004

The plasma surface modification of natural rubber vulcanizate was carried out using chlorodifluoromethane in a radio-frequency (13.56 MHz) electrodeless bell type plasma reactor. The modification was qualitatively assessed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The frictional force of the plasma-treated surface was found to decrease with the time of plasma treatment. An increase in the surface polarity, as evidenced by the decrease in contact angle of a sessile drop of water and ethylene glycol on the natural rubber vulcanizate surface, was noted with the plasma modification. In the case of similar plasma treatment of glass surface, only a reduction in the polarity was observed. The use of geometric and harmonic mean methods was found to be useful to evaluate the London dispersive and specific components of surface free energy. Irrespective of the method used for evaluation, an increasing trend in the surface free energy was noted with increasing plasma treatment time. However, the harmonic mean method yielded comparatively higher values of surface free energy than the geometric mean method. The plasma surface modification was found to vary the frictional coefficient by influencing the interfacial, hysteresis and viscous components of friction in opposing dual manners.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.33.2-33.2
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• 2009

Block copolymer lithography has attracted great attention for emerging nanolithography since nanoscaleperiodic patterns can be easily obtained through self-assembly process without conventional top-down patterning process. Since the morphologies of self-assembled block copolymer patterns are strongly dependent on surface energy of a substrate, suitable surface modification is required. Until now, the surface modification has been studied by using random copolymer or self-assembled mono layers (SAMs). However, the research on surface modifications has been limited within several substrates such as Si-based materials. In present study, we investigated the formation of block copolymer on Au substrate by $O_2$ plasma treatment with the SAM of 3-(p-methoxy-phenyl)propyltrichloro-silane [MPTS, $CH_3OPh(CH_2)_3SiCl_3$]. After $O_2$ plasma treatment, the chemical bonding states of the surface were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The static contact angle measurement was performed to study the effects of $O_2$ plasma treatment on the formation of MPTS monolayer. The block copolymer nanotemplates formed on Au surface were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the ordering of self-assembled block copolymer pattern and the formation of cylindrical nano hole arrays were enhanced dramatically by oxygen plasma treatment. Thus, the oxidation of gold surface by $O_2$ plasma treatment enables the MPTS to form the monolayer assembly leading to surface neutralization of gold substrates.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.131-137
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• 2012

para-Aramid fibers were treated by low-temperature plasma to improve the adhesion. The surface of para-aramid fibers were treated with gaseous plasma of several discharge power and treatment time in oxygen gas at 1Torr pressure. The treated fibers at low-temperature plasma were taken oxygen-containing functional groups and micro-crator on the surface. The modified fibers were measured by dynamic contact angle analyzer and XPS(X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy). The Interfacial adhesion properties of aramid fabric and polyurethane resin were determined by T-peel test. The surface of aramid fibers were observed by FE-SEM photographs. It was found that surface modification and chemical component ratio of the aramid fibers were improved wettability and adhesion characterization.

• KIEE International Transactions on Electrophysics and Applications
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• v.4C no.4
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• pp.142-144
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• 2004

To use Poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) for the electrokinetic flow channel, the PDMS surface must be modified to be hydrophilic. With $O_2$ plasma treatment, it is difficult to maintain hydrophilicity for more than one day. In this paper, we present the chemical modification of the PDMS surface using 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) to prolong hydrophilicity lifetime. The oxide radicals generated temporarily on the PDMS surface by $O_2$ plasma are grafted with HEMA. Once the PDMS samples have been grafted, they demonstrate improved hydrophilicity retainment and electroosmotic flow characteristics compared to the untreated PDMS and the oxidized PDMS following the $O_2$ plasma process. This phenomenon was verified by the contact angles, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and electro osmotic flow rates observed for more than 300 hours.

• KSTLE International Journal
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• v.9 no.1_2
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• pp.26-30
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• 2008

This study examined the surface modification characteristics of NBR using sealing in automobile. Surfaces of NBR were modified by RF power Ar plasma treatment. In experiment, pressure, flux, temperature were fixed and RF bias voltage. Treatment time was changed. In friction test, we used PTFE grease. After modification, surfaces of NBR showed many grooves, hydrophilic functional groups, and lipophilic functional groups. As increasing treating voltage and time, the amount of them was increased. And wetting angle and friction coefficient was decreased with increasing treating voltage and time. However, the pattern of changing friction coefficient was not fixed.

• Journal of Korean Vacuum Science & Technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.55-57
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• 2002

Metal-vapor-vacuum-arc ion source is an ideal source for both high current metal ion implanter and high current plasma thin-film deposition systems. It uses the direct evaporation of metal from surface of cathode by vacuum arc to produce a very high flux of ion plasmas. The MEVVA ion source, the high-current metal-ion implanter and high-current magnetic-field-filtered plasma thin-film deposition systems developed in Beijing Normal University are introduced in this paper.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.231-235
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• 2020

Industrialization and modern developments have led to an influx of toxic heavy metals into the aquatic environment, and the accumulation of heavy metals has serious adverse effects on humans. Among the various heavy metal treatment methods, adsorption is very useful and frequently used. Plastic materials, such as polypropylene and polyethylene, have been widely used as filter media due to their mechanical and chemical stability. However, the surface of plastic material is inert and therefore the adsorption capability of heavy metals is very limited. In this study, granular media and fiber media composed of polypropylene and polyethylene are used, and the surface modification was conducted in order to increase adsorption capability toward heavy metals. Oxygen plasma generated hydroxyl groups on the surface of the media to activate the surface, and then acrylic acid was synthesized on the surface. The grafted carboxyl group was confirmed by FT-IR and SEM. Heavy metal adsorption capability of pristine and surface modified adsorbents was also evaluated. Overall, heavy metal adsorption capability was increased by surface modification due to electrostatic interaction between the carboxyl groups and heavy metal ions. Fibrous PP/PE showed lower improvement compared to granular PP media because pore blockage occurred by the surface modification step, thereby inhibiting mass transfer.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.205-212
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• 2014

Polyethersulfone (PES) membranes were modified by various physico-chemical modification methods to enhance the surface hydrophilicity for application as a separation membrane to separate and collect water vapor from the flue gas. Homogeneous PES flat-sheet membranes were prepared and modified by acid treatment, blending and plasma treatment for hydrophilic surface modification. The surface characteristics of the modified PES membranes were evaluated by ATR-FTIR, XPS, SEM and contact angle measurements. No significant change in hydrophilicity was observed for the PES membranes modified by acid treatment with sulfuric acid or blending with various compositions of poloxamer as an amphiphilic PEO-PPO-PEO tri-block copolymer. On the other hand, Ar plasma treatment led to a significant increase in the hydrophilicity of the surface, depending on the plasma treatment time. As a result, the PES membrane could be the most efficiently surface-treated by applying the plasma treatment for enhancing their surface hydrophilicity.