# SURFACE FREE ENERGY MODIFICATION OF CRUDE RUBBER USING OXYGEN PLASMA AND UV LASER TREATMENT

> Title: SURFACE FREE ENERGY MODIFICATION OF CRUDE RUBBER USING OXYGEN PLASMA AND UV LASER TREATMENT Page Range: p.51-54 Author(s): Gorazd Golob; Marta Klanjsek Gunde; Kaplanova M; Mladen Lovrecek; Miran Mozetic File size: Download the pdf (subscribers only) Buy the pdf (non-subscribers) Journal:...

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Published: 2013-01-01T00:00:00+00:00
Categories: Polymers and Polymer Composites

**Title: SURFACE FREE ENERGY MODIFICATION OF CRUDE RUBBER USING OXYGEN PLASMA AND UV LASER TREATMENT**
 Page Range: p.51-54
 Author(s): Gorazd Golob; Marta Klanjsek Gunde; Kaplanova M; Mladen Lovrecek; Miran Mozetic
 File size:
 ![](http://dload.gif) [Download the pdf](http://journals.asp?Page=111&JournalDownload=ON&JournalType=ppc&JournalIssue=ppc21-1&JournalID=101823&JIP=) (subscribers only)
 ![](http://handbuy.gif) Buy the pdf (non-subscribers)
 Journal: Polymers and Polymer Composites
 Issue Year: ppc
 Volume: 21
 Issue No: No.1

**Abstract**
 A study has been made of the surface properties of nitrile-butadiene rubber and ethylene-propylene-diene monomer crude rubber, basic raw materials for offset lithographic printing blankets manufacturing. Increased surface free energy of the crude rubber was achieved by treatment with the low-pressure oxygen plasma. After plasma activation, samples were treated using a UV laser to deactivate the surface layer. The surface free energy was calculated on the basis of contact angles with different liquids. Plasma-treated samples had higher surface free energy, especially the polar component, and the effect was larger for nitrile-butadiene rubber samples. This surface free energy decreased after exposure to UV laser light. FTIR-ATR spectroscopy was used to detect possible changes in chemical structure of the surface, but no differences were obtained. Changes of surface free energy were thus most likely a consequence of changes in the surface structure. 16 Refs.

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