Surface modification of polytetrafluoroethylene by methods of laser ablation and ion-plasma exposure.

The results of an intermediate meso-layer formation processes study between a PTFE base and a surface layer obtained by preliminary modification of polytetrafluoroethylene with zirconium dioxide, followed by ion-plasma molybdenum sputtering and laser ablation are presented. It was found that doping with zirconium dioxide makes the structure of polytetrafluoroethylene denser, and the ratio of atomic concentrations of fluorine and carbon decreases by 17%. It indicates a decrease in the number of saturated fluorocarbon bonds in the polymer and leads to a higher chemical activity of polytetrafluoroethylene. Upon surface modification with molybdenum and at laser radiation exposure, a change in the chemical composition towards an increase in the ratio of atomic concentrations of oxygen and molybdenum by 56% is observed on the surface, as well as the formation of close-packed individual particles of molybdenum oxides (Mo⁶⁺, Mo⁵⁺, Mo⁴⁺, Mo³⁺, Mo²⁺, Mo¹⁺) from 3 to 15 µm in size were revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]