Formation of Thin Polymer Films in a Glow Discharge

Abstract

GLOW discharge polymerization of organic materials has already been described in detail¹. The process involves introducing vapours of relatively volatile monomers into a low pressure chamber (1 to 5 torr) and subjecting these to an A.C. discharge maintained between two parallel electrodes. Ions and electrons, produced in the glow, bombard the electrodes and the molecules in the gas phase; these interactions initiate complex chemical reactions which result in the formation of thin continuous coatings on the electrode surfaces. Film formation actually takes place by positive ion bombardment of monomer molecules adsorbed onto the electrodes. For a given monomer, the composition of the films varies with the ratio of adsorbed molecules to the number of ions striking the surface and also with the degree of contamination produced by breakdown products formed in the gas phase.