State-of-the-art overview: ion beam surface modification of polymers towards improving tribological properties

Ion beam surface modification has shown great potential for improving the tribological behaviour as well as surface mechanical properties of polymeric materials. As a result, the past few years have seen many advances in the field of ion beam surface modification of polymeric materials in terms of applying conventional ion beam techniques to various types of polymers, and introducing innovative plasma-enhanced ion implantation techniques. In this paper, the main wear mechanisms of polymeric materials are first overviewed; the state-of-the-art of ion beam surface modification of polymeric materials for improving tribological as well as mechanical properties is assessed through a referenced literature review; the ion-polymer interaction mechanisms involved in ion beam modification of polymers are briefly discussed; finally, key areas for future development are suggested. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.