Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) Surface Functionalization by Low-Energy Ion-Beam Irradiation under a Reactive O₂ Environment and Its Effect on the PEEK/Copper Adhesives

Abstract

A low-energy Ar+ ion beam was used to modify the surface of a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) film. The modification reaction proceeded with or without oxygen gas injected during the irradiation. The surface functional groups of the modified PEEK were confirmed with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy as increasing various oxygen-containing functional groups. The concentration of the functional groups varied rapidly with the irradiation time, reached a maximum value, and then slowly decreased. The surface morphology of PEEK was substantially changed by ion-beam irradiation. Surface smoothening occurred so that the surface roughness reached almost constant value after some irradiation time. The incorporation of functional groups on the PEEK surface and the surface topology change had opposite effects on the adhesion strength between PEEK and copper. Dominance of the former was evident because the lap-shear strength initially increased with the irradiation. The special surface features significantly enhanced the adhesion strength between the evaporated copper layer and the modified PEEK surface. However, the decrease in the surface roughness with a long time irradiation implies a decrease in adhesion strength due to a smaller contact area, and the shear strength due to topology change also slowly decreased after a long time irradiation.

Physico-chemical characteristics of high performance polymer modified by low and atmospheric pressure plasma

“…The XPS spectra of PEEK exposed to ion beam radiation [9] clearly reveals the generation of new peak at 289.0 eV which corresponds to the formation of CO-O group resulting from plasma oxidation. More highly oxidized carbon increases with an increase in the O/C ratio.…”

Functionalized poly(ether ether ketone): Improved mechanical property and acellular bioactivity

“…[1][2][3] This material is thermally stable at the temperature of 400 C for 15 min in a nitrogen (N 2 ) atmosphere. 4,5 The melting temperature (T m ) of PEEK is in the range of 335-395 C and glass transition temperature (T g ) varies from 143 to 160 C, depending upon the grade of polymer or crystallinity.…”

“…3 In recent years, several studies have been reported the surface treated PEEK or PEEK based composites with an intention of improving adhesive bonding. 2,7 The surface modification of aryl polymers for adhesive bonding has been carried out by several techniques namely, corona discharge treatment, 1 UV/ ozone surface oxidation, 7 low-energy ion-beam irradiation under a reactive O 2 environment, etc. 1 But most of the functionalizations of aryl polymers for membrane applications have been performed through chemical methods.…”

“…2,7 The surface modification of aryl polymers for adhesive bonding has been carried out by several techniques namely, corona discharge treatment, 1 UV/ ozone surface oxidation, 7 low-energy ion-beam irradiation under a reactive O 2 environment, etc. 1 But most of the functionalizations of aryl polymers for membrane applications have been performed through chemical methods. 8,9 The blends 10,11 and composites [12][13][14][15] of PEEK with various materials have been used in membrane, structural, and biomedical applications.…”

Determination of thermal and optical properties of ion implanted polyetheretherketone films by photothermal spectroscopies

“…Ion treatment of PEEK has been shown to induce chemical, mechanical, and electrical changes, and ion implanted PEEK has been used to create devices such as infrared bolometers. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] It has also been suggested that ion implantation of PEEK and other such polymers could be used to create low cost plastic circuitry and circuit elements. 2 Photothermal spectroscopic ͑PTS͒ techniques have been extensively and successfully applied to solid state materials to obtain their thermal and optical parameters.…”