APLICACIÓN DE RECUBRIMIENTOS ANTI-FRICCIÓN SOBRE ELASTÓMEROS TERMOPLÁSTICOS EMPLEANDO PLASMA ATMOSFÉRICO

Abstract

This work analyzes the characteristics of coating films that are based on aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) over a thermplastic elastomer (TPE) substrate with an objective of reducing the superficial friction coefficient of TPE. An atmospheric-pressure plasma jet system (APPJ) with a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) was used in this study. The coated samples were analyzed by Fourier-Transform Infrared with Attenuated Total Reflectance Spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) and tribological tests (friction coefficient and wear rate). The sample analyzed that experienced the highest degree of decomposition at a specific plasma power of 550 W and an APTES flow rate of 1.5 slm had the highest values of SiOSi and NH2 peak intensity and the lowest average friction coefficient. The studies showed that the coated samples that contain a higher amount of forms of silicon and amines have lower friction coefficients. The results of this research permit one to conclude that APPJ with a DBD is a promising technique to use in coating SiOx layers on polymeric materials.