Abstract
Ion modification of polymeric materials requires gentle regimens and subsequent investigation of mechanical and deformation behavior of the surfaces. Polyurethane is a synthetic block copolymer: A fibrillar hard phase is inhomogeneoulsy distributed in a matrix of soft phase. Implantation of carbon ions into this polymer by deep oscillation magnetron sputtering (energy—0.1–1 keV and dose of ions—1014–1015 ion/cm2) forms graphene-like nanolayer and causes heterogeneous changes in structural and mechanical properties of the surface: Topography, elastic modulus and depth of implantation for the hard/soft phase areas are different. As a result, after certain treatment regimens strain-induced defects (nanocracks in the areas of the modified soft phase, or folds in the hard phase) appear on the surfaces of stretched materials. Treated surfaces have increased hydrophobicity and free surface energy, and in some cases show good deformability without any defects.
Highlights
Materials with carbon or carbon-containing plasma-modified surface have found wide application in products with improved biomedical properties [1,2]
Protruding surface irregularities visible on the microscale (Figure 2a) are agglomerates of the hard phase of the polymer: Elastic modulus of these elevations is higher that the surrounding area
Wrinkles appear on the surface, first in the soft phase, spreading over the whole surface
Summary
Materials with carbon or carbon-containing plasma-modified surface have found wide application in products with improved biomedical properties [1,2]. The treatment of soft polymers is of great interest In this case, close attention should be paid to the mechanical and deformation properties of the coating. Regardless the nature of treatment, the stiffness of the coating (or the modified surface layer), even at the initial stage of formation [3], quickly becomes significantly higher than the polymeric substrate. In a case of multi-cycle deformation, which is typical for real operating conditions, the cracks propagate to a depth exceeding the thickness of the modified layer, significantly damaging the substrate [8].
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