Abstract
The influence of ion implantation on surface properties of polymers was studied. We investigated microhardness, friction, wear and wettablility of polyimide. Energies of 50, 200keV were used with doses range from $1{\times}10^{13} to 1{\times}10^{16} [ions/cm^2]$. The implanted ion species were B, N and Ar. The microhardness of polyimide was increased after implantation for doses of $1{\times}10^{15}\; [ions/cm^2]$. A reduction of the friction coefficient was in most case correlated with a reduction of wear. The contact angles of water for $B^+,N^+$ implanted polyimide decreased from $76^{\circ}C$ to zero, as the fluencies increased at energies of 50 and 200 KeV. However, the contact angle of Ar ion implanted polyimide did not change under ambient room conditions even if the time elapsed. SEM measurement was performed to characterize the modified surface layer.