Chemical composition of plasma treated polyimide microspheres

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 214; no. 1-4; pp. 52 - 57
• Main Authors: Gawdzik, Barbara, Sobiesiak, Magdalena
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 31-05-2003; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Physics; Physics of gases, plasmas and electric discharges; Physics of plasmas and electric discharges; Plasma applications; Plasma treatment; Polymer reactions and polymerization; Porous copolymer; Properties and characterization; Synthetic microspheres; Plasma treatment; Porous copolymer; Synthetic microspheres; Scanning electron microscopy; Divinylbenzene; Porous materials; Plasma assisted processing; Carbon; Fabrication; Microspheres; Chemical composition; Imide copolymer; Absorption spectra
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/S0169-4332(03)00353-2

Synthetic carbon microspheres for chromatography were obtained from porous copolymer of 4,4′-bis(maleimidodiphenyl)methane (BM) and divinylbenzene (DVB) using arc discharge argon plasma treatment. Chemical structure of the obtained material was determined by elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy with X-ray detector, acid and base titrations, and atomic absorption spectroscopy. The results suggest that the carbon microspheres contain copper coming from the plasma reactor electrodes. To remove it two complexion agents were used: EDTA and 20% HNO3. Copper can be removed from the surface using these methods. The other amount was permanently built into internal structure of the microspheres.