An AFM study of the mechanical properties and structural characteristics of a carbonized nanolayer produced by ion-plasma treatment of a polyurethane surface at different ion-beam incidence angles

During ion-plasma treatment of polymeric materials, the carbonization process occurs in the surface nanolayer of the sample. The produced carbonized nanolayer has good biocompatibility. Since medical endoprostheses have a curved surface shape, implantation of ions during plasma treatment can occur at different angles to the surface. In this work, we study the mechanical and structural characteristics of a carbonized layer obtained by implanting high-energy nitrogen ions at different angles to the polyurethane surface by atomic force microscopy. It was found that a change in the ion implantation angle affects the surface morphology, but does not significantly affect the stiffness properties of the carbonized layer.