The surface of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was studied by low energy He/sup +/ ion scattering (ISS). Modifications of the surface composition induced by the He/sup +/ and Ar/sup +/ bombardments are observed. The ion bombardment causes surface damages with bond breaking and it results a highly activated surface for the chemisorption of nitrogen from the residual gas phase. Similar effects were observed on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite when analyzed in the same beam conditions.
Bertrand, P., De Puydt, Y., Beuken, J.-M., Lutgen, P., & Feyder, G. (1987). Modification of polymer (PET) surface reactivity by low energy ion bombardment. Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research. Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, B19-20, 887-890. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/147990 (Original work published 1987)