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Ion bombardment is a suitable tool to improve tribological properties of polymers. In this study UHMWPE samples were bombarded with 130 keV He ions to the fluences ranging from 1 x 10(14) to 2 x 10(16) cm(-2). RBS and NRA techniques were applied to study compositional transformations induced by ion beam bombardment. Important hydrogen release was observed with increasing ion dose and was correlated with the linear energy transfer (LET). Another important effect observed was the rapid oxidation of samples, which apparently occurs after exposure of implanted samples to the air. Oxygen uptake continues during the prolonged storage of the samples in the air at RT. Up to 10 at.% of oxygen can be incorporated in the implanted layer. Changes of surface layer composition produced important increase in the layer hardness. Scratch tests revealed that the hardening of surface layers does not lead to their higher brittleness.

Ion bombardment is a suitable tool to improve tribological properties of polymers. In this study UHMWPE samples were bombarded with 130 keV He ions to the fluences ranging from 1 x 10(14) to 2 x 10(16) cm(-2). RBS and NRA techniques were applied to study compositional transformations induced by ion beam bombardment. Important hydrogen release was observed with increasing ion dose and was correlated with the linear energy transfer (LET). Another important effect observed was the rapid oxidation of samples, which apparently occurs after exposure of implanted samples to the air. Oxygen uptake continues during the prolonged storage of the samples in the air at RT. Up to 10 at.% of oxygen can be incorporated in the implanted layer. Changes of surface layer composition produced important increase in the layer hardness. Scratch tests revealed that the hardening of surface layers does not lead to their higher brittleness.

Changes of surface layer composition produced by ion bombardment of polyethylene and polypropylene samples were studied. These materials are under consideration for load bearing surfaces in biological and technical applications. To improve their tribological properties surface layers are usually modified by ionizing radiation. To study mechanism of transformations induced by ion beam bombardment selected polymers were implanted with H, He and Ar ions to the fluences ranging from 3x1014 to 2x1016 1/cm². RBS and NRA techniques were applied for sample analysis. Important hydrogen release was observed with increasing ion dose and was correlated with the ion stopping power. Another important effect observed was the rapid oxidation of samples, which apparently occurs after exposure of implanted samples to the air. Up to 10 at.% of oxygen can be incorporated in the implanted layer.

Changes of surface layer composition produced by ion bombardment of polyethylene and polypropylene samples were studied. These materials are under consideration for load bearing surfaces in biological and technical applications. To improve their tribological properties surface layers are usually modified by ionizing radiation. To study mechanism of transformations induced by ion beam bombardment selected polymers were implanted with H, He and Ar ions to the fluences ranging from 3x1014 to 2x1016 1/cm². RBS and NRA techniques were applied for sample analysis. Important hydrogen release was observed with increasing ion dose and was correlated with the ion stopping power. Another important effect observed was the rapid oxidation of samples, which apparently occurs after exposure of implanted samples to the air. Up to 10 at.% of oxygen can be incorporated in the implanted layer.