Metal-polymer systems plasma surface treatment

Surface modification of a polymer prior to metallization is widely used to improve adhesion. The most common surface modifications employed are electric discharge (corona and plasma) and, more recently, ion-beam treatments QJ- Several mechanisms have been proposed for the improved adhesion after such surface modifications (2). These include mechanical interlocking, the elimination of weak boundary layers, electrostatic attractions, and chemical bonding. All of these can play a role in adhesion depending on the surface modification used, metal/polymer system, type of metal deposition, and the extent of polymer preparation employed. However, for low power, short exposure modifications, the formation of new chemical species which can provide nucleation and chemical bonding sites for subsequent overlayers is considered to be of prime importance (3-51. 

Plasma Surface Treatment in Metal-Polymer Systems Interface Properties and Adhesion... 

A study on meta]-polymer interface formation following an in situ plasma treatment is presented. The plasma treatment is performed in a dual firequency ECR plasma This enables to control some of the main plasma parameters The study is focused on a model system consisting of a polypropylene substrate and a magnesium metal overlayer. Due to large variations in the interface properties depending on the surface treatment, this system allows deeper insight in the interface formation. 

In this paper some applications of static SIMS to a variety of modified polymer surfaces are described. They include plasma treatments in reactive and inert gases, corona treatment in air, as well as thermal and ion beam modifications of polymer-metal interfaces. The examples presented and discussed here primarily serve to illustrate the capabilities of static SIMS for the study of such surfaces and interfaces. More detailed discussions of the actual chemical processes that proceed in several of the systems cited will be published elsewhere. 

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