Swift ion effects in polymers: industrial applications

This paper is a review about methods of polymeric material modification based on the irradiation with accelerated heavy ions in the 1-10 MeV/u energy range. Chemical etching of ion tracks in polymers is a method which is widely used in the fabrication of micro- and nanostructures with pre-determined characteristics. Micro- and ultrafiltration membranes produced in this way and known as "track-etch membranes" have found several niches in the market since the seventies. This is an example of mature technology based on irradiation with swift ions. Apart from the membrane technology, the ion track pores find diverse applications as templates for the synthesis of micro- and nanowires and tubes, textured surfaces and bodies with special optical properties. Some recent achievements and promising ideas utilizing swift ion beams are presented. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.