Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 March 2004
A systematic study was carried out in order to characterise a DC pulsed dischargeused for the treatment of polystyrene thin films. The energy which is injected into plasmacan be modulated while exploiting the discharge time (τ), the afterglow durationtime (t ag ) and the treatment duration time (t t ). The variations of the macroscopicproperties of surface were monitored by measurement of the contact angle and we correlatedthese results of wettability with the way in which energy is distributed. The experimental results showed that the surface treatment was better (the largest wettability) for the smallest values of τ (2 µs) and largest times of t ag (0.1 s). A sensitivity of the treatment to the distribution of energy was highlighted, and it is through this study that we will put forth assumptions on the species responsible for the treatment.