Improved surface properties of polymer materials by multiple ion beam treatment

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Journal of Materials Research; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.1991.0610· OSTI ID:5487498

Lee, E H; Lewis, M B; Blau, P J; Mansur, L K ^[1]

---

1. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Metals and Ceramics Division, P. O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831 (USA)

Ion beam treatment studies have been carried out to investigate the potential for improvements in surface-sensitive properties of polymers. Kapton, Teflon, Tefzel, and Mylar have been implanted with boron, nitrogen, carbon, silicon, and iron ions, singly or simultaneously with dual or triple beams. The implanted materials were characterized by optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, nano-hardness indentation, wear testing, scanning tunneling microscopy, x-ray analysis, nuclear reaction analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Although the polymers showed a color change and varying degrees of measurable surface depression in the bombarded area, the implanted surface revealed substantial improvements in surface smoothness, hardness, and wear resistance. In particular, B, N, C triple-beam implanted Kapton showed over 30 times larger hardness than unimpanted material, making it more than three times harder than stainless steel. Sliding wear properties were characterized using an oscillating nylon or high carbon steel wear ball. Severe wear tracks were observed in virgin Kapton, but no appreciable wear was observed in ion implanted Kapton. Mechanisms underlying the improved surface properties are addressed.

• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5487498
• Journal Information: Journal of Materials Research; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Materials Research; (USA) Vol. 6:3; ISSN JMREE; ISSN 0884-2914
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360603* -- Materials-- Properties
BORON
CARBON
COHERENT SCATTERING
DIFFRACTION
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
FOURIER TRANSFORMATION
HARDNESS
INFRARED SPECTRA
INTEGRAL TRANSFORMATIONS
ION IMPLANTATION
IRON
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
METALS
MICROSCOPY
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
OPTICAL MICROSCOPY
POLYMERS
RAMAN SPECTRA
SCATTERING
SEMIMETALS
SILICON
SPECTRA
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TRANSFORMATIONS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TRIBOLOGY
TUNNEL EFFECT
X-RAY DIFFRACTION