Surface modification and metallization of fluorocarbon polymers by excimer laser processing

Abstract
The surface chemical modification of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) and poly(tetrafluoroethylene‐ co‐hexafluoropropylene) films was carried out in hydrazine gas photolyzed with ArF excimer laser irradiation. The contact angle of the modified surfaces with water changed from 130° to 30° due to the reaction with hydrazine. Nitrogen on the surface was detected with x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, suggesting that amino groups were introduced onto the surface. In addition, on the basis of hydrophilic behavior, we succeeded in selective‐area electroless plating of nickel metal on the chemically modified surface.