Choudhury, A. J.; Barve, S. A.; Chutia, J.; Pal, A. R.; Chowdhury, D.; Kishore, R.; Jagannath.; Mithal, N.; Pandey, M.; Patil, D. S.
Source
Applied Surface Science, 2011. Vol. 257 (9): pp. 4211-4218
ABSTRACT
Polystyrene films are deposited on bell metal substrates using
radiofrequency plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition (RF-PACVD)
process. The deposition of polystyrene film is carried out at
working pressure of 1.6×10−1 mbar and in the RF power
range of 20–110 W. The hydrophobic and mechanical behaviors
of the polystyrene films are studied as a function of RF power.
The chemical compositions and surface chemistry of the polystyrene
films are investigated using Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy (XPS). It is revealed that enhanced cross-linked
chemical structure and higher loss of oxygen by peroxy polystyryl
radical with increasing RF power results in the formation of polystyrene
films with more hydrophobic and scratch resistance behavior. However,
extensive destruction of cross-linked chemical structure due to
high energetic ion bombardment tends to decrease the hydrophobic
and scratch resistance behavior of the polystyrene film deposited
at RF power of 110 W. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images show
quite uniform and crack free surfaces of the polystyrene films
having rms roughness in the range of 0.35–0.87 nm.
Attempts are made to correlate the characterization resultswith
the parameters that are used for thin film depositions.