Mancini, Sandro Donnini [UNESP]Nogueira, Alex Rodrigues [UNESP]Rangel, Elidiane Cipriano [UNESP]Cruz, Nilson Cristino da [UNESP]2014-05-272014-05-272013-02-05Journal of Applied Polymer Science, v. 127, n. 3, p. 1989-1996, 2013.0021-89951097-4628http://hdl.handle.net/11449/74558Plasma treatments were applied on the surface of postconsumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles to increase their wettability and hasten the subsequent hydrolysis process. Sixty-four treatments were tested by varying plasma composition (oxygen and air), power (25-130 W), pressure (50-200 mTorr), and time (1 and 5 min). The best treatment was the one applied in air plasma at 130 W and 50 mTorr for 5 min, as it provided the lowest contact angle, 9.4°. Samples of PET before and after the optimized plasma condition were subjected to hydrolysis at 205°C. Although the treatment changed only a thin surface layer, its influence was evident up to relatively high conversion rates, as the treated samples presented more than 40% higher conversion rates than the untreated ones after 2 h of reaction. Infrared spectroscopy showed that the terephthalic acid obtained from 99% of depolymerization was similar to the commercial product used in PET synthesis. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.1989-1996engplasma treatmentpolyestersrecyclingsurface modificationAir plasmasCommercial productsConversion ratesHigh conversionsPlasma compositionPlasma conditionsPlasma treatmentSubsequent hydrolysisTerephthalic acidsThin surface layerContact angleInfrared spectroscopyPlasma applicationsPolyestersPolyethylene terephthalatesReaction ratesRecyclingSurface treatmentSynthesis (chemical)HydrolysisArtigo10.1002/app.37591WOS:000310603100068Acesso restrito2-s2.0-8486848626471573272200481380000-0002-4287-1969