Application of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in the analysis of polymer surfaces

photoelectron spectroscopy has been used to control the efficiency of a polymer fluorination procedure, designed to produce a layer impermeable to the organic compounds contained in gasoline. Analysis of the different environments of carbon showed the presence after treatment of -CHF-groups attached to -CF2-groups, and the amounts of these groups have been quantified. The presence of CF3 end groups has also been detected, suggesting breakage of the polymer chains during fluorination. ton beam erosion during XPS analysis provides information on the thickness of the fluorinated layer. The lack of improvement in the polymer performance in permeation tests is probably due to the low thickness of the layer and the presence of short chain fragments.