Hydrogen plasma immersion ion implantation of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene

Ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) was treated by hydrogen plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII). Accelerating voltages (U) between 15 and 30 kV, fluences (F) between 1 × 1017 and 3 × 1017 cm−2 with fluence rates (FR) between 3 × 1013 and 7 × 1013 cm−2 s−1 were applied. The surface chemical characterisation was performed by XPS. Nanomechanical properties like hardness (H), reduced modulus (E) and slope of scratch (S) of the untreated and modified surfaces were characterised by nanoindentation and nanoscratch measurements. The results demonstrate that hydrogen PIII‐treatment can significantly and favourably modify the nanomechanical properties of UHMWPE. The dependence of these properties on the main process parameters has been determined. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.