SURFACE MODIFICATION OF POLY(TETRAFLUOROETHYLENE) BY EXCIMER-LASER PROCESSING - ENHANCEMENT OF ADHESION

The adhesion of the PTFE substrate whose surface was modified upon ArF excimer laser irradiation under a hydrazine atmosphere was examined b y a tensile test for the sample prepared by jointing the laser-treated PTFE substrate and a carbon steel rod through chemical adhesives. The tensile strength at breaking point was over 12 MPa almost comparable to that of PTFE itself. The modified layer formed as a result of laser processing had a strong intimacy with PTFE itself and possessed mecha nical properties comparable to that of PTFE. The degree of modificatio n was gradual from the upper layer to the inner layer of PTFE.