The behaviour of phenylphosphine oxide containing polyimides in a water plasma following gamma-radiolysis

The surface oxidation of two polyimides containing fluorinated phenylphosph ine oxide units, TOR-RC and TOR-RC ODPA, have been studied by (XPS) spectro scopy following gamma -radiolysis under vacuum or in air and subsequent tre atment in a water plasma. The changes in the O 1s/C 1s ratios obtained from (XPS) analysis showed that on exposure to the water plasma the ratio incre ases and then levels to a constant value which is similar to that found for exposure to the plasma without prior gamma -radiation treatment. Evidence for the formation of phosphate species was also obtained from the (XPS) ana lyses. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.