Surface modification of polytetrafluoroethylene by 1keV Argon and Hydrogen irradiated in nitrogen and ammonia gas environment

Abstract

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) surface was modified for improving hydrophilicity by ion irradiation in environmental gas of <TEX>$N_2$</TEX> and <TEX>$NH_3$</TEX>, respectively. The water contact angle onto the PTFE surface increased from <TEX>$104{\circ}$</TEX> to over <TEX>$140{\circ}$</TEX> by Ar ion irradiation in <TEX>$N_2$</TEX> gas. In the case of <TEX>$NH_3$</TEX> as environmental gas, there were a slight increase of contact angle from ion dose of <TEX>$1{\times}10^{15}\;to\;5{\times}10^{15}\;ions/cm^2$</TEX>, and its dramatic decrease to the value of 35o at the conditions of ion dose higher than <TEX>$1{\times}10^{16}\;ions/cm^2$</TEX>. It was found from SEM results that the surface morphology of PTFE was changed into one with filament structure after Ar ion irradiation in <TEX>$N_2$</TEX> gas environments. On the contrary, Ar ion irradiation in <TEX>$NH_3$</TEX> gas condition induced the PTFE surface with network structure. Hydrogen ion irradiation resulted in a little change of PTFE surface morphology, comparing with the case of Ar ion irradiation. The water contact angle of hydrogen ion irradiated PTFE surface in reactive gas decreased with increment of ion dose. Hydrogen ion irradiation could improve hydrophilicity with little change of surface morphology. It might be considered from FT-IR results that the improvement in wettability of PTFE surface by ion irradiation in <TEX>$N_2$</TEX> and <TEX>$NH_3$</TEX> gases could be due to the hydrophilic groups of NHx bonds.