Structural effect of nitrogen plasma-based ion implantation on ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene

On the comparison of changes induced in crystallinity and surface nanomechanical properties of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene by γ and swift heavy ion irradiations

“…This effect was previously reported for UHMWPE after nitrogen plasma immersion ion implantation and attributed to an increase of defects in the polymer crystals caused by energetic ions [44]. Li-UH and N-UH spectra did not show a broad peak around 1600 cm −1 which is associated to the development of a dehydrogenated diamond-like carbon layer, as observed after plasma immersed ion implantation of UHMWPE [19,20,44]. In addition, the concomitant change in surface color from shining white to brownish yellow reported for ion implantation and plasma based ion implantation of UHMWPE was not observed at all [13,19].…”

“…The thickness of the affected layer varies from a few nanometers to 1 μm, depending on ion type and energy [11,12]. In polyethylene, the physico-chemical changes associated with ion implantation are chain scission, cross-linking, formation of double and triple bonds, dehydrogenation of the surface layers and creation of carbonaceous aggregates especially at high fluences [19,20]. The improvement in wear resistance is attributed to crosslinking but also to stiffening and hardening of the surface due to the formation of a diamond like carbon (DCL) layer [20,21].…”

Wettability of nano-epoxies to UHMWPE fibers

“…It has been known that UHMWPE fiber surface treatments can modify the surface conditions [5][6][7][8][9][10][11] at certain degree. Typical treatment methods include nitrogen ion implantation [4,5], nitrogen plasma etching [5], atomic particle bombardment [6], laser ablation [7], chain disentanglement [8,9], irradiation using UV, corona discharge and gamma rays [10], and cold plasma treatment [11]. One of the main effects on the UHMWPE fiber surface by these treatment processes is to incur some polarized groups or make the fiber surface active.…”

“…In order to solve the interfacial wetting and adhesion problem, several techniques for surface treatment on UHMWPE fibers have been applied, including both physical and chemical methods [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. These treatments on UHMWPE fibers showed the effectiveness of improving the fiber/matrix interface wetting and adhesion at some extent, but they caused damage in the structural integrity of the fibers.…”

Effect of nitrogen ion irradiation on the nano-tribological and surface mechanical properties of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene

“…Recent literature reports many data about the wear improvement of UHMWPE by using ion bombardment treatments such as ion implantation [11][12][13][14][15][16] and plasma immersion ion implantation [17][18][19][20]. The modified layer, which depends on the ion type and fluence (ions/cm 2 ), reaches depth values ranging from a few nanometers to one micrometer [12,16,21,22].…”