AFM method for investigation of irradiated polymers

• Published in: Radiation measurements 2003-06, Vol.36 (1), p.233-237
• Main Authors: Zagorski, D.L., Vilensky, A.I., Kosarev, S.A., Miterev, A.M., Zhdanov, G.S., Mchedlishvili, B.V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AFM and SEM; Polymer; Structure of track; Swift heavy ions and fission fragments
• ISSN: 1350-4487; 1879-0925
• DOI: 10.1016/S1350-4487(03)00130-6

Tracks of swift heavy ions (Xe and Bi) at the surface of polymer (PET) were studied using AFM and surface defects—cavities (for Xe) and hillocks with cavities on its top (for Bi) were found. Thermal behavior of these Bi-irradiated samples (during annealing from 70°C to 180°C) was investigated. It was found that low-temperature annealing does not change the shape of surface defects, while high-temperature annealing leads to slow disappearance of these defects. Irradiation of a stack of ultra-thin PET films by fission fragments was carried out and some sheets were then investigated separately. Two types of defects, corresponding to two main types of incident fragments (according to average energy distribution) were found. The deep structure of a track was studied and the ranges for two types of fragments were estimated. The increase of area of destruction was found at the depth 10– 12 μm , which may be associated with changing of mechanism of interaction of passing particle with polymer and the dominant role of nuclear interaction. The obtained results are supported by a model calculation.