In　order　to　improve　the　surface　properties　of　polyurethane　(PU),　samples　of　polyurethane　have　been　surface　modified　using　a　newly　developed　active　screen　plasma　modification　(ASPM)　technique.　The　change　in　the　surface　topography　was　investigated　by　profilometry,　atomic　force　microscopy　(AFM)　and　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM);　the　chemical　composition　and　bonding　structure　of　the　plasma　modified　PU　surface　were　characterized　by　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　(XPS)　and　Fourier　transform　infrared　spectroscopy　(FTIR);　and　the　wettability　of　the　modified　surface　was　studied　by　contact　angle　and　surface　energy　was　calculated.　The　results　show　that　the　ASPM　technique　not　only　can　effectively　alter　the　surface　topography　of　polyurethane　from　a　closed　cell　structure　to　porous　open　structure　but　also　result　in　transformation　of　ester　groups　into　new　O-H　groups　in　the　top　surface　layer.　The　changes　of　surface　topography,　structure　and　chemical　composition　by　plasma　treatment　have　also　effectively　modified　the　wettability　of　the　polyurethane　surface.　(C)　2012　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.