Surface Preparation of Thermoplastics, Thermosets, and Elastomers

This chapter has been adapted from Surface Preparation of Thermoplastics, Thermosets, and Elastomers in Surface Treatment of Materials for Adhesion Bonding, S. Ebnesajjad C.F. Ebnesajjad 2006 Elsevier Inc. 

Thermoplastics, thermosets, and elastomers require surface treatment to remove contamination and prepare their surfaces for adhesion bonding. Both initial bond strength and bond durability are affected by the surface preparation technique. Most materials require unique methods of treatment for optimal bond strength formation. Most surface preparation treatment methods use or generate chemicals that have various serious health effects and must be used with extreme caution. 

The book consists of four parts. Part I contains two introductory chapters that describe the fundamental concepts of surface treatment and adhesion. Part II is comprised of chapters that describe surface tension (energy) concepts, surface characterization techniques, and surface preparation methods for metals and thermoplastics, thermosets, and elastomers. 

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