A study of Cu sputtering on the polyphenylene sulfide fiber with plasma surface treatment

Sputtering is an effective technique for coating various substrates. However, the high energy involved can cause damage to polymers. In this study, polyphenylene sulfide, an engineering plastic known for its excellent thermal properties, was coated with Cu to impart electrical conductivity. To minimize polymer degradation during sputtering, oxygen plasma treatment was employed prior to deposition to investigate its effect on the process. The plasma treatment facilitated the attachment of oxygen species to the polyphenylene sulfide surface, which significantly enhanced the copper deposition rate. Notably, electrical conductivity increased by a factor of 10¹² during sputtering, with conductivity being 1.75 times greater after plasma treatment compared to untreated samples. Additionally, the thermal and mechanical properties of the polyphenylene sulfide were improved. These findings suggest that the plasma-assisted sputtering process not only enhances the electrical conductivity of polyphenylene sulfide but also has the potential to broaden its industrial applications.