Surface Activation of Polyamide 6 Nanocomposites by Atmospheric Plasma: Wettability and Chemical Changes for Type IV Pressure Vessel Liners

Dávid István Kis; Eszter Kókai

doi:10.30939/ijastech..1753231

Surface Activation of Polyamide 6 Nanocomposites by Atmospheric Plasma: Wettability and Chemical Changes for Type IV Pressure Vessel Liners

Abstract

This study explores how atmospheric-pressure plasma treatments can modify the surface properties of polyamide 6 (PA6) and its nanocomposites reinforced with organomodified montmorillonite (OMMT), materials developed as potential liners for Type IV composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) designed for hydrogen storage. Four material compositions were examined: neat PA6 and composites containing 1, 2.5, 5, and 10 wt.% OMMT. Two different plasma systems—a piezoelectric plasma brush and a rotary plasma source—were used to activate the surfaces, and their effects were evaluated using water contact angle (WCA) measurements and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Both plasma treatments effectively increased the wettability of the tested materials, but the rotary plasma consistently produced the lowest WCA values across all compositions, reaching as low as 21° for neat PA6. These findings suggest that the rotary plasma’s higher power and dynamic exposure enhance the formation of polar functional groups and may increase micro-scale roughness, leading to improved surface activation. FTIR results confirmed the appearance and growth of oxidized functional groups, particularly carbonyl and hydroxyl species, which are linked to the increased surface polarity and hydrophilicity. Time-dependent contact angle tests revealed that the effects of plasma treatment were not permanent. Over several hours, the contact angles gradually increased, returning close to untreated values.

Keywords

Project Number

RRF-2.3.1-21-2022-00009

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Automotive Engineering (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Dávid István Kis This is me
0000-0001-8265-956X
Hungary

Eszter Kókai ^*
0009-0002-3043-9914
Hungary

Early Pub Date

November 19, 2025

Publication Date

December 17, 2025

Submission Date

July 29, 2025

Acceptance Date

October 29, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 9 Number: 1st Future of Vehicles Conf.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.30939/ijastech..1753231

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA57LY26NW

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Kis, D. I., & Kókai, E. (2025). Surface Activation of Polyamide 6 Nanocomposites by Atmospheric Plasma: Wettability and Chemical Changes for Type IV Pressure Vessel Liners. International Journal of Automotive Science And Technology, 9(1st Future of Vehicles Conf.), 41-46. https://doi.org/10.30939/ijastech..1753231

AMA

1.Kis DI, Kókai E. Surface Activation of Polyamide 6 Nanocomposites by Atmospheric Plasma: Wettability and Chemical Changes for Type IV Pressure Vessel Liners. IJASTECH. 2025;9(1st Future of Vehicles Conf.):41-46. doi:10.30939/ijastech.1753231

Chicago

Kis, Dávid István, and Eszter Kókai. 2025. “Surface Activation of Polyamide 6 Nanocomposites by Atmospheric Plasma: Wettability and Chemical Changes for Type IV Pressure Vessel Liners”. International Journal of Automotive Science And Technology 9 (1st Future of Vehicles Conf.): 41-46. https://doi.org/10.30939/ijastech. 1753231.

EndNote

Kis DI, Kókai E (December 1, 2025) Surface Activation of Polyamide 6 Nanocomposites by Atmospheric Plasma: Wettability and Chemical Changes for Type IV Pressure Vessel Liners. International Journal of Automotive Science And Technology 9 1st Future of Vehicles Conf. 41–46.

IEEE

[1]D. I. Kis and E. Kókai, “Surface Activation of Polyamide 6 Nanocomposites by Atmospheric Plasma: Wettability and Chemical Changes for Type IV Pressure Vessel Liners”, IJASTECH, vol. 9, no. 1st Future of Vehicles Conf., pp. 41–46, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.30939/ijastech..1753231.

ISNAD

Kis, Dávid István - Kókai, Eszter. “Surface Activation of Polyamide 6 Nanocomposites by Atmospheric Plasma: Wettability and Chemical Changes for Type IV Pressure Vessel Liners”. International Journal of Automotive Science And Technology 9/1st Future of Vehicles Conf. (December 1, 2025): 41-46. https://doi.org/10.30939/ijastech. 1753231.

JAMA

1.Kis DI, Kókai E. Surface Activation of Polyamide 6 Nanocomposites by Atmospheric Plasma: Wettability and Chemical Changes for Type IV Pressure Vessel Liners. IJASTECH. 2025;9:41–46.

MLA

Kis, Dávid István, and Eszter Kókai. “Surface Activation of Polyamide 6 Nanocomposites by Atmospheric Plasma: Wettability and Chemical Changes for Type IV Pressure Vessel Liners”. International Journal of Automotive Science And Technology, vol. 9, no. 1st Future of Vehicles Conf., Dec. 2025, pp. 41-46, doi:10.30939/ijastech. 1753231.

Vancouver

1.Dávid István Kis, Eszter Kókai. Surface Activation of Polyamide 6 Nanocomposites by Atmospheric Plasma: Wettability and Chemical Changes for Type IV Pressure Vessel Liners. IJASTECH. 2025 Dec. 1;9(1st Future of Vehicles Conf.):41-6. doi:10.30939/ijastech. 1753231