Effects of electron beam irradiation on shear strength of laminated sheet of bio-adaptable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) with fracture toughness

Abstract

Effects of homogeneous low voltage electron beam irradiation (HLEBI) without glue on the adhesive force of tensile shear strength (τ B) at each shear probability (P s) of laminated PDMS/PTFE sheets of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) were investigated. Although τ B of shear at low and mid P s of 0.06 and 0.50 were 0.015 and 0.04 MPa before treatment, 0.22 MGy-HLEBI enhanced the τ B up to the largest values of 0.098 and 0.11MPa of the laminated sheets, respectively. They were more than 6 and 3 times larger than those before treatment. On the other hand, additional HLEBI apparently reduced the τ B of laminated sheets irradiated at more than 0.43MGy as usual radiation damages. The effects of HLEBI on adhesion force of τ B can be explained by the enhancement of cross-linking at PDMS/PTFE interface. When HLEBI cut the chemical bonds and generated active terminated atoms with dangling bonds at cross-linked PDMS and PTFE polymers, strengthening the bonding force of cross-linking polymers was induced by the chemical bonding and intermolecular attractive force.