MODIFICATION OF POLYETHYLENETEREPHTHALATE SURFACE BY THE IMPLANTATIONOF SB+ IONS

The properties and the structure of polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) im planted with 150 keV Sb+ ions to the fluences of 1 x 10(12)-1 x 10(15) cm(-2) were studied using IR, UV-VIS spectroscopies and Rutherford ba ck-scattering (RES). The polymer surface layer 160-200 nm thick was af fected by ion implantation. The results provide evidence for the occur rence of degradation processes in ion-exposed layers, including a Norr ish II reaction and benzene ring scission. The concentration and the c onjugation length of the double bonds produced by the degradation proc esses are an increasing function of the ion fluence. The measured temp erature dependence of the sheet resistivity in the range 170-370 K con firms a variable hopping mechanism of the charge transport. (C) 1996 E lsevier Science Ltd