Plasma polymerization of trimethylsilane in cascade arc discharge

Plasma polymerization of trimethylsilane (TMS) in cascade are discharge was experimentally investigated. It was found that the deposition rates of methane and TMS plasma polymer were dependent on plasma parameters, and the surface characteristics of plasma polymer were also dependent on plasma variables. The following plasma variables were studied: are current, argon flow rate, TMS flow rate, chamber pressure, substrate axial, and radial positions. Carbon, silicon, and oxygen were the main elements observed in TMS polymer films obtained by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS). Powder-like TMS polymer films were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The size distribution of the powder-like particles was strongly dependent on deposition parameters. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.