X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON-SPECTROSCOPY OF KRF LASER-IRRADIATED POLYCARBONATE FILMS

Spun films of polycarbonate were photoablated in air at 248 nm. The et ch and incubation data have a superlinear dependence on the laser flue nce. The surface compositional changes were analysed by X-ray photoele ctron spectroscopy (XPS). As evidenced by the decrease of the O/C rati o, photoablation is inferred as distinct from the low-intensity photoo xidative degradation. A direct correlation is observed between the XPS and incubation data and the ablation seems to occur by chain scission at the C-0 bond, the fully incubated surface being an average of mono meric composition.