Surface modification and adhesion improvement of PTFE film by ion beam irradiation

The polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) surfaces, modified by 1 kV Ar+ or O-2(+) ion beam irradiation, was investigated with in-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron Micrographs (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements. The surface of PTFE films modified by Ar+ ion irradiation was carbonized and the surface roughness increased with increasing ion doses. The surface of PTFE films modified by both At+ ion in 0, atmosphere and O-2(-), ion irradiation formed the oxygen function group on PTFE surface, and the surface roughness change was relatively small. The adhesion improvement in At+ ion irradiated PTFE surface is attributed to mechanical interlocking due to the surface roughness and -CF-radical, but that in Ar+ ion irradiation in an O-2 atmosphere was contributed by the C-O complex and -CF-radical with mechanical interlocking. The C-O complex and -CF-radical in O-2(+) ion irradiated surface contributed to the adhesion. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.