Ability of a Kaufman source to functionalize the surface of polystyrene by low-energy (80-225 eV) nitrogen ion bombardment

Some applications of polymers in terms of biocompatibility require only a single chemical group, namely primary amines, to be grafted on a polymer surface. As an alternative to the efficient but unselective plasma method, the efficiency of the Kaufman ion source for incorporation of nitrogen in a polystyrene surface is demonstrated in this study. The influence of different treatment parameters on nitrogen incorporation is examined: the nitrogen ion energy (80-225 eV), the ion dose (1 x 10(15)-5 x 10(16) ions cm(-2)) and the incident angle (55 and 90 degrees), It is also shown that the induced chemical modifications are stable, because no changes are noted when samples are analysed 20 weeks after the treatment, Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.