Analysis of polymer surfaces by SIMS 4. A study of some acrylic homo- and co-polymers

Static SIMS spectra from essentially undamaged acrylic polymers have been obtained for total ions doses of 2 × 1012 ions cm−2. For a series of polymethacrylates the spectra can be interpreted in terms of a constant contribution from the polymer backbone plus dominant fragments from the ester side chain. Isomeric butyl methacrylate polymers can be distinguished. Negative ion spectra reflect the O:C atomic ratio of the bulk polymer. Positive ion relative intensities from ethyl methacrylate: hydroxyethyl methacrylate random copolymers correlate with polymer composition. Previous SIMS data from polymethacrylates have been shown to represent highly damaged surfaces.