PET SURFACE MODIFICATIONS BY TREATMENT WITH MONOCHROMATIC EXCIMER UV LAMPS

Physical and chemical surface modifications of polyethyleneterephthala te (PET) films due to treatment with excimer UV lamps (222 nm) have be en studied. Interpretations of the reactions and products were made in comparison to known PET irradiations with excimer UV lasers and broad -band UV sources. In this context the advantages of the excimer UV lam ps as a light source, i.e., a quasi monochromatic radiation source wit h a power density which is sufficient for initiating surface reactions without changing the topography of the substrate, have been shown. An alytical data on treated PET to characterize the surface modifications were obtained by contact-angle measurements, dyeing with cationic dye stuff, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), photoacoustic Fourier trans form infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies. With regard to possible industrial applications, the r elevance for textile finishing and some perspectives for future develo pments are pointed out.