Surface Wettability Modification of Cyclic Olefin Polymer by Direct Femtosecond Laser Irradiation

• Main Authors: Wang, Bing, Wang, Xincai, Zheng, Hongyu, Lam, Yee Cheong
• Other Authors: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/103335; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/38732
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The effect of laser irradiation on surface wettability of cyclic olefin polymer (COP) was investigated. Under different laser parameters, a superhydrophilic or a superhydrophobic COP surface with a water contact angle (WCA) of almost 0° or 163°, respectively, could be achieved by direct femtosecond laser irradiation. The laser power deposition rate (PDR) was found to be a key factor on the wettability of the laser-treated COP surface. The surface roughness and surface chemistry of the laser-irradiated samples were characterized by surface profilometer and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively; they were found to be responsible for the changes of the laser-induced surface wettability. The mechanisms involved in the laser surface wettability modification process were discussed.