Aluminum-polyimide interface

We use an ab-initio local spin density method to investigate the aluminum/polyimide interface at low coverage. We found in agreement with XPS and EELS experiments, that the aluminum atom bonds to the carbonyl group. Our calculations suggest a formation of a linear C-O-AI complex. We calculated core levels chemical shifts and vibrational frequencies in the vicinity of the carbonyl group. 

Metal thin films deposited on polymers are widely used in various industrial domains such as microelectronics (capacitors), magnetic recording, packaging, etc. Despite much attention that has been paid in the recent literature on the adhesive properties of metals films on polyimide (PI)( 1 - 5 ) and polyethyleneterephtalate (PET)((L) it appears that a better knowledge of the metal/polymer interface is needed. In this paper we focus ourself on the relationship between the adhesion and the structural properties of the aluminum films evaporated (or sputtered) on commercial bi-axially stretched PET (Du Pont de Nemours (Luxembourg) S.A.). A variety of treatment (corona, fluorine,etc.) have been applied in order to improve the adhesion of the metallic layer to the polymer. The crystallographic... 

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