SURFACE MODIFICATION OF POLYMETHYLMETHACRYLATE BY UV-LIGHT AS STUDIEDBY TOF-SIMS

In the present paper the chemical modification upon exposure with UV l ight of 185 nm and 254 nm in an Ar atmosphere of the surface of polyme thylmethacrylate (PMMA) is studied with time-of-flight secondary ion m ass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). The results show that UV photodegradation of PMMA does not induce large changes in the TOF-SIMS spectra. Howeve r, changes in the relative peak intensities for the photolysed samples and comparison with results from PMMA fragmentation upon ion bombardm ent show that the photodegradation has proceeded to a considerable ext ent. In addition, small peaks are observed due to ions that originate from oxidized PMMA groups.