Surface modification of polymeric materials using ultra low energy electron beam irradiation

An ultra low energy electron beam (UL-EB) was used to irradiate various polymeric materials such as fluorinated polymers and a polyimide under an oxygen-free atmosphere. After the irradiation of the polyimide, the change in the thermal properties was measured by DSC and TGA. The surface modification of fluorinated polymers was demonstrated by use of styrene grafting by the preirradiation grafting method. By the use of UL-EB irradiation it was possible to facilitate styrene monomer grafting onto the surface of fluorinated polymers without losing their material characteristics. Moreover, in the case of the polyimide (Kapton™), which has excellent radiation resistance, the glass transition temperature was improved by about 20 °C by irradiation up to 40 MGy within 1 h.