Ion-beam modification of polymeric materials – fundamental principles and applications

Abstract

When an energetic ion traverses a polymer medium, it loses its energy by electronic and nuclear processes. In the past, considerable research efforts have been devoted to understand the effects of the electronic and nuclear processes in materials. There have been, however, some conflicting reports regarding the roles of electronic and nuclear stopping in producing property changes in polymeric materials, namely the magnitude of cross-linking and scission. A consensus derived from the work conducted at ORNL indicates that electronic stopping is largely responsible for cross-linking and nuclear stopping for scission, although both processes can cause cross-linking as well as scission. The most important parameter for cross-linking is found to be the energy deposited per unit ion path length or linear energy transfer (LET). The mechanisms involved with property changes are discussed by clarifying the concepts of nuclear and electronic stopping, LET, tracks, and spurs. Experimental evidence to support the views are presented. Also addressed are specific property changes induced by ion-beams, which may be of use for industrial applications.