Surface functionalization of PEEK films studied by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Using the wet chemistry method, the surface of poly(aryl ether ether ketone) (PEEK) film was selectively modified to produce PEEK-OH, PEEK-COOH, PEEK-glutamine, PEEK-NH2 and PEEK-SO3H samples displaying, respectively, hydroxyl, carboxyl, amino acid, amine and sulphonyl functions. All the samples were analysed by XPS and time-of-flight (ToF) SIMS; the experimental data provided by both techniques were in good agreement, and allowed the chemical nature and the yield of the functional groups introduced by the different surface derivatizations to be determined.