Polymer metallization, metal diffusion during

Metal Diffusion During Metallization of High-Temperature Polymers... 

This paper aims to give a brief review of our present understanding of metal diffusion during polymer metallization and of the implications for the formation and structure of metal-polymer interfaces. For recent more extended reviews the reader is also referred to references 2-4. 

The volume is divided into three parts Part I. Metallization Techniques and Properties of Metal Deposits, Part II, Investigation of Interfacial Interactions," and Part III, "Plastic Surface Modification and Adhesion Aspects of Metallized Plastics. The topics covered include various metallization techniques for a variety of plastic substrates various properties of metal deposits metal diffusion during metallization of high-temperature polymers investigation of metal/polymer inlerfacial interactions using a variety of techniques, viz., ESCA, SIMS, HREELS, UV photoemission theoretical studies of metal/polymer interfaces computer simulation of dielectric relaxation at metal/insulalor interfaces surface modification of plastics by a host of techniques including wet chemical, plasma, ion bombardment and its influence on adhesion adhesion aspects of metallized plastics including the use of blister test to study dynamic fracture mechanism of thin metallized plastics. 

If in the case of aluminized silicone we were able to evidence a drastic difference between sputtering and evaporation, it happens not to be the case for aluminized PET (13). Our preliminary results on this latter polymer indeed show no marked differences between the two deposition processes, both giving strong chemical interaction. By contrast we have also observed that with noble metals such as Au, no chemical interaction is taking place with silicone substrate with both deposition processes. This tells us that the nature of the polymer substrate and of the metal are most important for the interfacial and adhesive properties. The fundamental parameter seems to be the reactivity of both constituents of the interface. It has been confirmed by Pireaux et al. that the carboxylic function is one of the most reactive surface entity (14) and indeed for PET, the adsorption site for the Al atoms is found to be the carboxylic function (13). During this interaction, Al is oxidized and the diffusion of O into the Al film can occur. 

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