Corona discharge oxygen free radicals

The oxygenated species incorporated by flame treatment are similar to those created during corona discharge treatment. This suggests a common series of reactions following the initial creation of macroradicals by interaction with the ions, radicals, free atoms, excited species, and electrons that compose the flame. The profuse concentration of activation events is such that antioxidants have little impact on the oxidation reactions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals that flame treatment modifies the surface to a depth of 40-90 A [53], In addition to oxygenated species there is also an increase in the level of nitrogen within the surface layers of the sample. 

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