Corona discharge treatments of plastified PVC samples used in biological environment

The effects of the plasticizer content and of the treatments by corona discharge in helium on the morphology and on some physico-chemical properties of the PVC surface were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), IR spectroscopy, and contact angle measurements. A biological test of adsorption of some ions (calcium, potassium, and sodium) from human serum sanguine on the surface of PVC was also performed. After corona discharge treatment, the surface morphology presents a cleaning of oligomers and an increase in porosity, depending on the treatment time and on the content of the plasticizer. Surface energy considerably increases and functionalization of the surface is observed after treatment by corona discharge in helium. This functionalization does not change the electrolitical equilibrium of some ions from the serum sanguine, a convenient result that controls the stability of the blood-PVC sample interface. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 2419-2425, 2001.