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Title: Anisotropic pyrochemical microetching of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) initiated by synchrotron radiation-induced scission of molecule bonds

Journal Article · · Applied Physics Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4941668· OSTI ID:22489398
; ;  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. University of Hyogo, 3-1-2 Kouto, Kamigori, Ako, Hyogo 678-1205 (Japan)
  2. University of Yamanashi, 4-3-11 Takeda, Kohfu, Yamanashi 400-8511 (Japan)
  3. Okayama Prefectural University, 111 Kuboki, Sousha, Okayama 719-1197 (Japan)

We developed a process for micromachining polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE): anisotropic pyrochemical microetching induced by synchrotron X-ray irradiation. X-ray irradiation was performed at room temperature. Upon heating, the irradiated PTFE substrates exhibited high-precision features. Both the X-ray diffraction peak and Raman signal from the irradiated areas of the substrate decreased with increasing irradiation dose. The etching mechanism is speculated as follows: X-ray irradiation caused chain scission, which decreased the number-average degree of polymerization. The melting temperature of irradiated PTFE decreased as the polymer chain length decreased, enabling the treated regions to melt at a lower temperature. The anisotropic pyrochemical etching process enabled the fabrication of PTFE microstructures with higher precision than simultaneously heating and irradiating the sample.

OSTI ID:
22489398
Journal Information:
Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 108, Issue 5; Other Information: (c) 2016 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English