Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.78, No.13, 2389-2397, 2000
Preparation of oxygen gas barrier polypropylene films by deposition of SiOx films plasma-polymerized from mixture of tetramethoxysilane and oxygen
Silicon oxide (SiOx) film deposition on the surface of oriented poly(propylene) (OPP) films was done to form a new oxygen gas barrier material using plasma polymerization of the tetramethoxysilane (TMOS)/O-2 mixture. The SiOx film deposition on OPP films never improved oxygen gas barrier properties. The inefficacy of the SiOx deposition was due to poor adhesion at the interface between the deposited SiOx and OPP films and also to the formation of cracks in the deposited SiOx film. If prior to the SiOx film deposition surface modification of OPP films was done by a combination of the argon plasma treatment and TMOS coupling treatment, this contributed effectively to strong adhesion leading to success in the SiOx deposition on the OPP film surface, and then the oxygen gas barrier ability was improved. The oxygen permeation rate through the SiOx-deposited OPP film was decreased from 2230 to 37-52 cm(3)/m(2)/day/atm, which was comparable to that of poly(vinylidene chloride), 55 cm(3)/m(2)/day/atm at a film thickness of 11 mum.