The effect of antioxidants on the surface oxidation and surface cracking of crosslinked polydimethylsiloxane

Crosslinked polydimethylsiloxanes with three different chain-breaking antioxidants (Irganox 1076, Irganox 565 and Tinuvin 770) were exposed to air plasma (GHz), and the surface structures of the exposed samples were assessed by contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, optical and scanning electron microscopy, and surface profilometry before and after uniaxial stretching. It was found that samples containing antioxidants oxidized more slowly than the reference sample with no antioxidant. Higher doses of air plasma were required to form a brittle silica-like layer in the samples with antioxidant than in the reference sample with no antioxidant. Tinuvin 770 showed the strongest antioxidative effect whereas Irganox 1076 and Irganox 565 were similar in efficiency. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.