Synthesis of amorphous carbon nanofibers on a surface of commercial polymers under the action of a high power ion beam of nanosecond duration

The irradiation of various commercial polymers (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, polymethyl methacrylate) by a high-power ion beam of nanosecond duration has been investigated. The amorphous carbon nanofibers formation was detected on the surface of low-cost commercial polymers (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl chloride) containing a catalyst under the high power ion beam irradiation at room temperature. Various iron compounds (organic and inorganic) were used as catalytic additions. The electron microscopy (scanning and transmission) with an energy dispersive analyzer and Raman spectroscopy were used to investigate the morphologies and structure of irradiated polymers. Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) had a most probable diameter in the range 50-90 nm and a maximum length of up to 10 μm. The maximum CNFs growth rate was estimated as 160 μm/μs. A possible growth mechanism for CNFs is discussed.