Laser Surface Profilometry: A Novel Technique for the Examination of Polymer Surfaces

AbstractAn excimer-laser-based method for achieving selective-area oxide growth on polymer surfaces is described. This method uses high photon energy (6.4 eV, 7.9 eV) excimer laser irradiation to change hydrophobic surfaces (surface tension <20 erg/cm2) into hydrophilic surfaces. The hydrophobic growth surfaces are prepared by exposure of a polymer to halogen-containing plasmas. Selective growth is done by simultaneously exposing patterned, laser-modified surfaces to SiC14 and H2O; the reaction takes place only where the H2O adsorbs to form a condensed adlayer. After selective growth, oxygen etching of the polymer results in the desired resist pattern. When used with a plasma-deposited carbon polymer, the result is a new all-dry lithographic process.

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Effects of Electrical Discharges in Low Pressure Gases on the Morphology of Polyethylene Crystals

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100052730 ◽

1974 ◽

Vol 32 ◽

pp. 544-545

Author(s):

L.H. Bolz ◽

D.H. Reneker

Keyword(s):

Power Distribution ◽

Electrical Discharge ◽

Dielectric Breakdown ◽

Ionic Species ◽

Low Pressure ◽

Polymer Surfaces ◽

Electrical Discharges ◽

Adhesive Bonds ◽

Power Distribution Lines ◽

Modification Of The Surface

The attack, on the surface of a polymer, by the atomic, molecular and ionic species that are created in a low pressure electrical discharge in a gas is interesting because: 1) significant interior morphological features may be revealed, 2) dielectric breakdown of polymeric insulation on high voltage power distribution lines involves the attack on the polymer of such species created in a corona discharge, 3) adhesive bonds formed between polymer surfaces subjected to such SDecies are much stronger than bonds between untreated surfaces, 4) the chemical modification of the surface creates a reactive surface to which a thin layer of another polymer may be bonded by glow discharge polymerization.

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Microstructures of Laser Processed Fe-Cr Surface Alloys

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100098150 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 39 ◽

pp. 328-329

Author(s):

P. A. Molian ◽

K. H. Khan ◽

W. E. Wood

Keyword(s):

Cooling Rate ◽

Pure Iron ◽

Continuous Wave ◽

Laser Surface ◽

Material Surface ◽

Constitution Diagram ◽

Incident Power ◽

Surface Alloying ◽

Laser Surface Alloying ◽

Spot Diameter

In recent years, the effects of chromium on the transformation characteristics of pure iron and the structures produced thereby have been extensively studied as a function of cooling rate. In this paper, we present TEM observations made on specimens of Fe-10% Cr and Fe-20% Cr alloys produced through laser surface alloying process with an estimated cooling rate of 8.8 x 104°C/sec. These two chromium levels were selected in order to study their phase transformation characteristics which are dissimilar in the two cases as predicted by the constitution diagram. Pure iron (C<0.01%, Si<0.01%, Mn<0.01%, S=0.003%, P=0.008%) was electrodeposited with chromium to the thicknesses of 40 and 70μm and then vacuum degassed at 400°F to remove the hydrogen formed during electroplating. Laser surface alloying of chromium into the iron substrate was then performed employing a continuous wave CO2 laser operated at an incident power of 1200 watts. The laser beam, defocussed to a spot diameter of 0.25mm, scanned the material surface at a rate of 30mm/sec, (70 ipm).

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Applications of Time-OF-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (TOF-SIMS)

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100135149 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 308-309

Author(s):

Bruno Schueler ◽

Robert W. Odom

Keyword(s):

Mass Spectrometry ◽

Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry ◽

Structural Information ◽

Time Of Flight ◽

Biological Tissues ◽

Polymer Surfaces ◽

Tof Sims ◽

Secondary Ions ◽

Ion Mass Spectrometry ◽

Secondary Ion

Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) provides unique capabilities for elemental and molecular compositional analysis of a wide variety of surfaces. This relatively new technique is finding increasing applications in analyses concerned with determining the chemical composition of various polymer surfaces, identifying the composition of organic and inorganic residues on surfaces and the localization of molecular or structurally significant secondary ions signals from biological tissues. TOF-SIMS analyses are typically performed under low primary ion dose (static SIMS) conditions and hence the secondary ions formed often contain significant structural information.This paper will present an overview of current TOF-SIMS instrumentation with particular emphasis on the stigmatic imaging ion microscope developed in the authors’ laboratory. This discussion will be followed by a presentation of several useful applications of the technique for the characterization of polymer surfaces and biological tissues specimens. Particular attention in these applications will focus on how the analytical problem impacts the performance requirements of the mass spectrometer and vice-versa.

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Thrombus formation on artificial surfaces: Correlative microscopy

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s042482010016176x ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (3) ◽

pp. 840-841

Author(s):

Quintin J. Lai ◽

Stuart L. Cooper ◽

Ralph M. Albrecht

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

High Resolution ◽

Low Voltage ◽

Thrombus Formation ◽

Blood Platelets ◽

Polymer Surfaces ◽

Flow Conditions ◽

Transmission Electron ◽

Adhesion Of Platelets ◽

Microscopic Techniques

Thrombus formation and embolization are significant problems for blood-contacting biomedical devices. Two major components of thrombi are blood platelets and the plasma protein, fibrinogen. Previous studies have examined interactions of platelets with polymer surfaces, fibrinogen with platelets, and platelets in suspension with spreading platelets attached to surfaces. Correlative microscopic techniques permit light microscopic observations of labeled living platelets, under static or flow conditions, followed by the observation of identical platelets by electron microscopy. Videoenhanced, differential interference contrast (DIC) light microscopy permits high-resolution, real-time imaging of live platelets and their interactions with surfaces. Interference reflection microscopy (IRM) provides information on the focal adhesion of platelets on surfaces. High voltage, transmission electron microscopy (HVEM) allows observation of platelet cytoskeletal structure of whole mount preparations. Low-voltage, high resolution, scanning electron microscopy allows observation of fine surface detail of platelets. Colloidal gold-labeled fibrinogen, used to identify the Gp Ilb/IIIa membrane receptor for fibrinogen, can be detected in all the above microscopies.

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