Plasma immersion ion implantation modification of surface properties of polymer material

The use of plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) as a novel method for the treatment of polymer surfaces is investigated. The effect of Pm treatment on the coefficient of friction, contact angle modification, and surface energy of silicone and EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene monomer) rubber are investigated as a function of pulse voltage, treatment time, and gas species. Low energy (0 - 8 keV) and high dose (similar to 10(17) - 10(18) ions/cm(2)) implantation ofN(2), Ar, and CF4 is performed using an inductively coupled plasma source (ICP) at low pressure (0.2 mTorr). PIII treatment reduces the coefficient of friction (I) of silicone rubber from mu = 0.464 to the range mu = 0.176 - 0.274, and mu of EPDM rubber decreases from 0.9 to the range mu = 0.27 - 0.416 depending on processing conditions. The contact angle of water and diiodomethylene decreases after implantation and increases at higher doses for both silicone and EPDM rubber.