RESUMO
Polymer coating technology is currently an important field in science as it can lead to final products with enhanced characteristics characterized by desired bulk and surface properties. Low power plasmas can induce the polymerization of a precursor gas on the substrate surface as well as introduce functional groups under specific plasma conditions. In the present work, we studied the possibility of reducing water sensitivity of corn starch films by sulfur hexafluoride (SF(6)) plasma treatment. Confocal laser microscopy as well as atomic force microscopy was used to observe the main surface modifications and results indicated starch cross-linking. Fluoride was incorporated to the surface and the relationship between fluoride and sulfur incorporation to the surface was very much dependent on plasma power. Results indicate that fluoride could be preferentially incorporated on polymeric surfaces at -100V self-bias and the overall surface morphology determined the measured contact angle. The dynamic behavior of surface contact angle was observed to be very much dependent on the treatment time and force-distance curves were used to further characterize the chemical surface modifications locally. Optimized treatment conditions led to water contact angles up to 130 degrees . Even after being in contact with water for 10min, surfaces remained hydrophobic, presenting contact angles over 100 degrees .
RESUMO
201Tl is frequently used in radiopharmaceutical applications, and therefore the gamma-ray emission probabilities and half-life have been re-determined by means of gamma-ray spectroscopy. While the activity was calibrated using the sum-peak coincidence method, the half-life was obtained by the reference source method based on simultaneous counting of a reference source and the sample. Both the measurement techniques and assignment of uncertainties are presented and discussed, and the resulting data are shown to be in good agreement with previously published studies.
