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Improved wear properties of high energy ion-implanted polycarbonate

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Abstract

Polycarbonate (LexanTM) (PC) was implanted with 2 MeV B+ and O+ ions separately to fluences of 5 × 1017, 1 × 1018, and 5 × 1018 ions/m2, and characterized for changes in surface hardness and tribological properties. Results of tests showed that hardness values of all implanted specimens increased over those of the unirradiated material, and the O+ implantation was more effective in improving hardness for a given fluence than the B+ implantation. Reciprocating sliding wear tests using a nylon ball counterface yielded significant improvements for all implanted specimens except for the 5 × 1017 ions/m2 B+-implanted PC. Wear tests conducted with a 52100 steel ball yielded significant improvements for the highest fluence of 5 × 1018 ions/m2 for both ions, but not for the two lower fluences. The improvements in properties were related to Linear Energy Transfer (LET) mechanisms, where it was shown that the O+ implantation caused greater ionization, thereby greater cross-linking at the surface corresponding to much better improvements in properties. The results were also compared with a previous study on PC using 200 keV B+ ions. The present study indicates that high energy ion irradiation produces thicker, more cross-linked, harder, and more wear-resistant surfaces on polymers and thereby improves properties to a greater extent and more efficiently than lower energy ion implantation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Bldg. 5500, M.S. 6376, 37831-6376, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA

    G. R. Rao & E. H. Lee

  2. UES, Inc., 4401, Dayton-Xenia Road, 45432, Dayton, Ohio, USA

    R. Bhattacharya & A. W. McCormick

Authors
  1. G. R. Rao
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  2. E. H. Lee
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  3. R. Bhattacharya
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  4. A. W. McCormick
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Rao, G.R., Lee, E.H., Bhattacharya, R. et al. Improved wear properties of high energy ion-implanted polycarbonate. Journal of Materials Research 10, 190–201 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.1995.0190

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.1995.0190

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