Effect of UV/ozone irradiation on the surface properties of electrospun webs and films prepared from polydimethylsiloxane-urea copolymers

► Highly hydrophobic surfaces of silicone-urea copolymers were transformed into hydrophilic ones upon UV/ozone treatment. ► The extent of surface modification was strongly dependent on the sample preparation method, surface topography and the exposure time. ► The physical and chemical changes at the copolymer surfaces were analyzed by spectroscopic (XPS, ATR-FTIR), microscopic (SEM) techniques and static water contact angle measurements. ► UV/ozone process is a very simple and facile method to transform hydrophobic silicone-rich surfaces into fairly hydrophilic ones under mild conditions.