Patent ID: 7597924

Claim:
A method for modifying an ePTFE surface, comprising: providing an ePTFE material in a chamber suitable for plasma treatment; providing a continuous low energy plasma discharge onto the ePTFE material; applying high voltage pulses of short duration to form a high energy ion flux from the plasma discharge to generate ions which form free radials on the surface of the ePTEE material; dosing the ions onto the ePTFE material at about 10 13 to about 10 16 ions per cm 2 of the surface of the ePTFE material; and carburizing the ePTFE material to a depth of about 30 nm to about 500 nm to define a modified ePTFE surface without destroying the node and fibril structure of the ePTFE material below the modified ePTFE surface.