Modification of poly(ether ether ketone) by ion irradiation

Poly(ether ether ketone) was irradiated with 3.0 MeV Si2+, 3.25 MeV CU2+ and 4.8 MeV Ag2+ ions to the fluences from 10(12) to 10(14) cm(-2) and the effects of irradiation were studied using ERDA, RBS and FTIR methods. The irradiation leads to release of hydrogen from the PEEK surface layer modified by the ion beam. The release is mild for low ion fluences but it becomes more pronounced at the ion fluences above 10(13) cm(-2). At highest ion fluences the hydrogen concentration falls to 20-35% of its initial value. In contrast to hydrogen no significant oxygen release was observed. The kinetic of the hydrogen release is similar for the three ion species. FTIR measurement shows deep structural changes of the polymer structure resulting from the ion irradiation. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.