Comprehensive study of polymer fiber surface modifications Part 1: high-fluence UV-excimer-laser-induced structures

• Published in: Polymer international Vol. 53; no. 6; pp. 627 - 633
• Main Authors: Yip, Joanne, Chan, Kwong, Sin, Kwan Moon, Lau, Kai Shui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.06.2004; Wiley
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; physico-chemical surface treatments; Physicochemistry of polymers; polyamide; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers; UV excimer laser; Polymer; physico-chemical surface treatments; polyamide; UV excimer laser
• ISSN: 0959-8103; 1097-0126
• DOI: 10.1002/pi.1420

Recently, there has been great interest in physico‐chemical surface treatments for modifying polymer surfaces. Ultraviolet (UV)‐excimer‐laser irradiation of polymers is of particular interest. In this study, polyamide was irradiated by a 193 nm excimer laser with a fluence above its ablation threshold (high‐fluence). Morphological changes of the resulting samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TM‐AFM). Chemical modifications by laser treatment were studied by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) and chemical force microscopy (CFM). Topographical results indicated that ‘ripple‐like’ structures of micrometer size were formed after laser irradiation. XPS and Tof‐SIMS results showed that bond scission occurred on the polymer surface under the action of high‐fluence. Changes in surface chemical properties of the laser‐irradiated polyamide were supported by CFM experiments. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry