Surface Energy Characteristics of Polytetrafluoroethylene Bombarded with MeV Protons

Abstract

Energy characteristics of the irradiated surface of a polytetrafluoroethylene film depend on the energy and fluence of bombarding MeV protons. Irradiation with 2–4 MeV protons leads to an increase in the surface free energy; 4 MeV protons at a fluence of 10¹⁵ proton/cm² increase the polarity of the polymer surface by 40 times due to the appearance of functional groups, the polarity enhancement being manifested in an increase in the acid–base component of the surface energy by more than a factor of 50. There is a correlation between the dispersion component of the surface energy and the degree of crystallinity of the near-surface layer of the polymer a period. They both grow symbatically in the case of bombardment with 1–2 MeV protons and decrease upon irradiation with 4 MeV protons. It has been found that dehydrofluorination results in carbonization of the irradiated surface, a decrease in the fluorine content, and an increase in the proportion of oxygen due to oxidation of the radicals generated by proton bombardment.