Detection of polymers luminescence after high pressure glow discharge treatment

The possibilities offered by luminescence techniques for investigating surface transformations induced by a cold plasma are examined. Attention is given to materials suitable for practical applications with or without chromophores in the monomer unit. Luminescence was detected from liquid nitrogen up to room temperature. In this range, polyethylene is the most luminescent polymer. Spectral features of the emitted light were recorded at low temperature. They were ascribed to fluorescence for PEN and to phosphorescence for all the other polymers studied. After room-temperature treatment, luminescence is not strong enough to allow spectral analysis. Temperatures of polymer structural transition were recorded