Surface modification makes paper hydrophobic and oleophilic. This combination allows ink oil to penetrate the paper, but prevents dampening water absorption, which increases papers printability.
Three different plasma-solid interactions are used: etching/ablation, plasma activation, and plasma coating. Etching or ablation is when material is removed from the surface of the solid. Plasma activation is where species in the plasma like ions, electrons, or radicals are used to chemically or physically modify the surface. Lastly, plasma coating is where material is coated to the surface in the form of a thin film. Plasma coating can be used to add hydrocarbons to surfaces which can make a surface non-polar or hydrophobic. The specific type of plasma coating used to add hydrocarbons is called plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition process or PCVD.