Optical properties of plasma‐treated PEEK: Monitoring colour and crystallinity for applications in medicine and dentistry using ellipsometry

Poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) is a widely used and versatile polymer. Here, we use ellipsometry to determine the wavelength-dependent optical properties of PEEK before after surface modified by plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII), technique that renders hydrophilic bio-active. Lorentz Gaussian oscillator models are fit data for extraction constants dielectric function. The effect PIII, even short treatment times, changes PEEK, indicative an amorphisation initial semicrystalline structure broadens electronic density states distribution. progressive in with time allow assessment colour estimation dose PIII process.