Tribological behavior of C—F bonds in plasma-synthesized fluoropolymers analyzed by polarized infrared microspectroscopy

Abstract

Tribological structural changes in plasma-produced fluoropolymers are investigated by polarized microinfrared spectroscopy. The olefinic structures, which arise from the defluorination of fluorocarbon frameworks by friction, are enhanced in the friction products remaining in the severely rubbed trace. The C—F bond softening, indicated by a downward shift in the C—F stretching peak, is confirmed in the friction products, comparing with unrubbed film. The degree of bond softening in the friction products increases with increasing the degree of rubbing severeness. Polarization analyses of the C—F stretching band reveal that the carbon frameworks of the friction products remaining in the vigorously rubbed trace are oriented in the rubbing direction.