Surface modification and metallization of fluorocarbon polymers by excimer laser processing

Abstract

The surface chemical modification of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) and poly(tetrafluoroethylene- co-hexafluoropropylene) films was carried out in hydrazine gas photolyzed with ArF excimer laser irradiation. The contact angle of the modified surfaces with water changed from 130° to 30° due to the reaction with hydrazine. Nitrogen on the surface was detected with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, suggesting that amino groups were introduced onto the surface. In addition, on the basis of hydrophilic behavior, we succeeded in selective-area electroless plating of nickel metal on the chemically modified surface.