ION-BEAM ABLATION OF POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was irradiated with 300 keV Ar+ ions to the fluences of 1 x 10(14) to 1 x 10(16) cm(-2); the PTFE structural changes induced by the ion irradiation were studied by X-ray diffracti on and UV-vis and IR spectroscopies. The electrical conductivity of th e ion beam modified PTFE was also investigated using the standard tech nique, and the alterations of the surface polarity were determined by contact angle measurements. The ion irradiation leads to intensive PTF E ablation due to the breaking of the C-C bonds in the polymer molecul ar chains and due to the production and liberation of the molecular fr agments CxFy. In contrast to other polymeric materials, the irradiated PTFE carbonizes to a lesser extent and the observed irradiation induc ed increase of the electrical conductivity is also not significant. In coming ions cause a reduction of the crystalline phase content in the PTFE samples. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 69: 12 57-1261, 1998.