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Polymers, paint and wood industries, Polymères, industries des peintures et bois, Sciences exactes et technologie, Exact sciences and technology, Sciences appliquees, Applied sciences, Industrie des polymeres, peintures, bois, Polymer industry, paints, wood, Technologie des polymères, Technology of polymers, Domaines d'application, Application fields, Batiment. Travaux publics, Buildings. Public works, Matériaux, Materials, Adhésifs, Adhesives, Adhérence, Adhesion, Adherencia, Adhésif, Adhesive, Adhesivo, Calorimétrie différentielle balayage, Differential scanning calorimetry, Análisis calorimétrico barrido exploración, Composition chimique, Chemical composition, Composición química, Durcissement (matière plastique), Curing (plastics), Endurecimiento (material plástico), Energie surface, Surface energy, Energía superficie, Epoxyde résine, Epoxy resin, Epóxido resina, Etude expérimentale, Experimental study, Estudio experimental, Interaction intermoléculaire, Intermolecular interaction, Interacción intermolecular, Matériau revêtement, Coating material, Material revestimiento, Propriété surface, Surface properties, Propiedad superficie, Pâte ciment, Cement paste, Pasta cemento, Rayon X, X ray, Rayos X, Spectrométrie FTIR, Fourier-transformed infrared spectrometry, Espectrometría FTIR, Spectrométrie photoélectron, Photoelectron spectrometry, Espectrometría fotoelectrón, Traitement surface, Surface treatment, Tratamiento superficie, C-S-H, IGC, XPS, adhesion, adhesives, cement paste, ettringite, portlandite, surface energy, and wetting

The surface energy of cement paste components (calcium silicate hydrate [C-S-H], ettringite and portlandite) before and after treatment with an organic coating has been characterised by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and inverse gas chromatography at 35 °C using n-alkanes, 1-alkene, chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, diethyl ether and CCl4 molecular probes. Complementary investigations on the interfacial chemistry were also conducted by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Differential scanning calorimetry analyses. Changes in the dispersion contribution to the surface energy (γds) and acid―base interaction energies were found to be significantly reduced by the organic coating. The XPS allowed the surface chemistry changes induced by the organic coating to be monitored. In particular, the C1s spectra were peak fitted in order to deduce the contribution of the organic coating materials to the total carbon content on the surface. This study showed not only the existence of hydrate-hardener donor―acceptor adduct formation but also presence of interactions between the hydroxide groups OH of the epoxy and portlandite.

Polymers, paint and wood industries, Polymères, industries des peintures et bois, Sciences exactes et technologie, Exact sciences and technology, Sciences appliquees, Applied sciences, Industrie des polymeres, peintures, bois, Polymer industry, paints, wood, Technologie des polymères, Technology of polymers, Appareillage et mise en oeuvre, Machinery and processing, Matières plastiques, Plastics, Revêtement, métallisation, coloration, Coating, metallization, dyeing, Acide sulfurique, Sulfuric acid, Sulfúrico ácido, Adhésivité, Adhesivity, Adhesividad, Angle contact, Contact angle, Angulo contacto, Attaque chimique, Chemical etching, Ataque químico, Carbonate polymère, Polycarbonate, Carbonato polímero, Composition chimique, Chemical composition, Composición química, Cuivrage, Copper coating, Encobrado, Dépôt par oxydoréduction, Electroless plating, Depósito por oxidorreducción, Etude expérimentale, Experimental study, Estudio experimental, Groupe fonctionnel, Functional group, Grupo funcional, Manganèse IV Oxyde, Manganese IV Oxides, Manganeso IV Óxido, Métallisation, Metallizing, Metalización, Propriété surface, Surface properties, Propiedad superficie, Relation mise en oeuvre propriété, Property processing relationship, Relación puesta en marcha propiedad, Rugosité, Roughness, Rugosidad, Topographie surface, Surface topography, Traitement surface, Surface treatment, Tratamiento superficie, PC surface etching, adhesion strength, electroless copper plating, and surface roughness

In this paper, an environmentally friendly etching system containing H2SO4―MnO2 colloid was used to investigate surface etching for polycarbonate (PC). The effects of swelling condition, H2SO4 concentrations and etching times on surface topography and surface roughness were studied. With the etching treatment, the surface average roughness (Ra) of PC substrates increased from 3 to 76 nm and the adhesion strength between the electroless copper and PC substrate reached 1.08 KN/m. Surface chemistry of PC substrates was investigated by the contact angle measurement and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra (XPS). After the etching treatment, PC surface became hydrophilic and the contact angle decreased from 95.2 to 39.6°. XPS analyses indicate that hydroxyl and carboxyl groups are formed on the PC surface as a result of the etching treatment, which improve the adhesion strength between PC substrate and electroless copper film.

Polymers, paint and wood industries, Polymères, industries des peintures et bois, Sciences exactes et technologie, Exact sciences and technology, Sciences appliquees, Applied sciences, Industrie des polymeres, peintures, bois, Polymer industry, paints, wood, Technologie des polymères, Technology of polymers, Formes d'application et semiproduits, Forms of application and semi-finished materials, Matériaux composites, Composites, Agent accrochage, Coupling agent, Agente enganche, Déchet bois, Wood waste, Desperdicio madera, Effet concentration, Concentration effect, Efecto concentración, Etude expérimentale, Experimental study, Estudio experimental, Isocyanate organique, Organic isocyanate, Isocianato orgánico, Matériau composite, Composite material, Material compuesto, Matériau renforcé dispersion, Dispersion reinforced material, Material renforzado dispersión, Oléfine polymère, Olefin polymer, Olefina polímero, Point ramollissement, Softening point, Punto reblandecimiento, Polymère fonctionnel, Functional polymer, Polímero funcional, Propriété mécanique, Mechanical properties, Propiedad mecánica, Propriété rhéologique, Rheological properties, Propiedad reológica, Propriété thermique, Thermal properties, Propiedad térmica, Propriété traction, Tensile property, Propiedad tracción, Propène dérivé copolymère, Propylene derivative copolymer, Propeno derivado copolímero, Propène polymère, Propylene polymer, Propeno polímero, Résistance flexion, Bending strength, Resistencia flexión, Stabilité thermique, Thermal stability, Estabilidad térmica, Traitement surface, Surface treatment, Tratamiento superficie, Viscosité cisaillement, Shear viscosity, Viscosidad cizalla, Farine bois, Température de fléchissement sous charge, Viscosité complexe, compatibilizer, interfacial interaction, poly(propylene), and wood flour

The effects of wood flour content (60―80%) and m-TMI-g-PP content (0―14%) on the properties of wood flour/polypropylene composites (WF/PP) were investigated by means of mechanical properties, thermal analysis, dynamic rheological analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results demonstrated that WF significantly increased the mechanical properties, char yield, heat deflection temperature (HDT), vicat softening temperature (VST), Tc, G', G, and η*. However, WF above 70% led to decreased mechanical properties, so for the comprehensive consideration of the cost and environmental issues, 70% WF is the best. With the addition of m-TMI-g-PP, the mechanical properties, thermal stability, HDT, VST, ΔHm, and Tm of composites were all got improvement, which was attributed to the strong interfacial interaction of m-TMI-g-PP on composites. However, when it exceeded 10%, the mechanical properties of the composites declined, it probably formed a separate phase in the PP matrix. Therefore, the 10% m-TMI-g-PP was chosen in WF/PP. In addition, the results were all further confirmed by SEM analysis.

Polymers, paint and wood industries, Polymères, industries des peintures et bois, Sciences exactes et technologie, Exact sciences and technology, Sciences appliquees, Applied sciences, Metaux. Metallurgie, Metals. Metallurgy, Transformation de matériaux métalliques, Production techniques, Traitements de surface, Surface treatment, Autres traitements de surface, Other surface treatments, Adhésivité, Adhesivity, Adhesividad, Aluminium, Aluminio, Etude expérimentale, Experimental study, Estudio experimental, Experimentelle Untersuchung, Fluor Composé organique, Fluorine Organic compounds, Fluor Compuesto orgánico, Glace, Ice, Hielo, Eis, Hydrophobicité, Hydrophobicity, Hidrofobicidad, Microstructure, Microestructura, Mikrogefuege, Mouillabilité, Wettability, Remojabilidad, Benetzbarkeit, Propriété surface, Surface properties, Propiedad superficie, Oberflaecheneigenschaft, Relation structure propriété, Property structure relationship, Relación estructura propiedad, Silane organique, Organic silane, Silano orgánico, Traitement chimique, Chemical treatment, Tratamiento químico, Traitement surface, Surface treatment, Tratamiento superficie, Oberflaechenbehandlung, Superhydrophobicité, holes, ice adhesion strength, low temperature, micro-nanoscale structure, superhydrophobic aluminum surface, water contact angle, and water sliding angle

The adhesion of ice to high -voltage overhead transmission lines should be small to ensure ease of ice shedding under small external forces. In this work, we studied the influence of the microstructure of superhydrophobic surfaces on the strength of ice adhesion at a working temperature of ―6 °C. Compared to a bare aluminum surface, the microstructure superhydrophobic aluminum surfaces did decrease ice adhesion strength. The superhydrophobic aluminum surfaces with a larger number of micro-holes produced the lowest strength of ice adhesion; its ice adhesion strength was ∼163.8 times lower than that for the bare aluminum samples. Furthermore, such microstructure aluminum surfaces had water contact angles larger than 150° and water sliding angles of less than 8.2° even at a working temperature of ―6 °C. The low values of the ice adhesion strength of the above samples were mainly attributed to the superhydrophobic property, which was obtained by creating a structure of micro-nanoscale holes on the aluminum surface after treatment with a low- surface-energy fluoroalkylsilane (FAS).

Polymers, paint and wood industries, Polymères, industries des peintures et bois, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences medicales, Medical sciences, Chirurgie (generalites). Transplantations, greffes d'organes et de tissus. Pathologie des greffons, Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases, Chirurgie orl et maxillofaciale. Chirurgie dentaire. Orthodontie, Head and neck surgery. Maxillofacial surgery. Dental surgery. Orthodontics, Chirurgie maxillofaciale. Chirurgie dentaire. Orthodontie, Maxillofacial surgery. Dental surgery. Orthodontics, Adhésif, Adhesive, Adhesivo, Adhésivité, Adhesivity, Adhesividad, Agent accrochage, Coupling agent, Agente enganche, Biomatériau, Biomaterial, Céramique oxyde, Oxide ceramics, Cerámica óxido, Dentisterie restauratrice, Dental restoration, Restauración dental, Effet substituant, Substituent effect, Efecto sustituyente, Etude expérimentale, Experimental study, Estudio experimental, Matériau revêtement, Coating material, Material revestimiento, Modèle 3 dimensions, Three dimensional model, Modelo 3 dimensiones, Modélisation, Modeling, Modelización, Méthacrylate polymère, Methacrylate polymer, Metacrilato polímero, Méthode élément fini, Finite element method, Método elemento finito, Propriété mécanique, Mechanical properties, Propiedad mecánica, Propriété surface, Surface properties, Propiedad superficie, Résistance rupture, Rupture strength, Resistencia ruptura, Silane organique, Organic silane, Silano orgánico, Traitement surface, Surface treatment, Tratamiento superficie, Zircone, Zirconia, Zircona, Adhésif dentaire, finite element analysis, fractography, fracture strength, silane coupling agents, tribochemical silica-coating, and zirconia

This study evaluated and compared the effect of new four experimental silane coupling agents on the fracture strength of zirconia copings. The findings were supported with fractographic and finite element analyses. All together 125 zirconia copings with a wall thickness of 0.6 mm were fabricated on identical nickel-chromium master dies and then divided randomly into five groups (n = 25). Four test groups were prepared according the experimental silane primer (labeled: OIWA1, OIWA2, OIWA3 and OIWA4) and one ontrol group without silanization. The silane monomers used were: 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (in OIWA1), 3-acryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (in OIWA2), 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane (in OIWA3) and styrylethyltrimethoxysilane (in OIWA4). Tribochemical sandblasting (silica-coating) treatment was performed to the inner surface of the copings in the test groups. All the specimens were silanized at the inner surfaces of the zirconia copings. Self-adhesive universal resin cement was used to cement the copings to the underlying master die. Zirconia copings were vertically loaded on the cusp area until the first crack failure was occurred using Precision Universal Tester at a constant crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. Then, the machine was manually controlled to cause more failure to further determine the texture of fracture. Three dimensional finite element analysis and fractography were performed to support the fracture strength findings. Based on the finite element analysis results, zirconia silanized with 3-acryloyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane showed the highest fracture strength with a mean of 963.75 N (SD 4.5 N), while zirconia copings silanized with 3-methacryloyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane showed a mean fracture strength value of 925.65 N (SD 2.4 N). Styrylethyltrimethoxysilane-silanised zirconia showed mean fracture strength of 895.95 N (SD 3.5 N). Adding silane coupling agents to the resin-zirconia interface increased the fracture strengths significantly (ANOVA, p < 0.05). Silanization with four new experimental silane primers in vitro produced significantly greater fracture strength than the control group not treated with the test silane.

Polymers, paint and wood industries, Polymères, industries des peintures et bois, Sciences exactes et technologie, Exact sciences and technology, Sciences appliquees, Applied sciences, Industrie des polymeres, peintures, bois, Polymer industry, paints, wood, Technologie des polymères, Technology of polymers, Formes d'application et semiproduits, Forms of application and semi-finished materials, Matériaux composites, Composites, Angle contact, Contact angle, Angulo contacto, Energie surface, Surface energy, Energía superficie, Epoxyde résine, Epoxy resin, Epóxido resina, Etude expérimentale, Experimental study, Estudio experimental, Fibre aramide, Aramid fiber, Fibra aramida, Fibre synthétique, Synthetic fiber, Fibra sintética, Matériau composite, Composite material, Material compuesto, Matériau renforcé fibre, Fiber reinforced material, Material reforzado fibra, Propriété surface, Surface properties, Propiedad superficie, Traitement par plasma, Plasma assisted processing, Traitement surface, Surface treatment, Tratamiento superficie, aramid fiber, contact angle, liquid droplet, surface energy, and surface treatment

In this paper, both contact angles and surface energy of aramid fibers are investigated using the liquid droplet method. First, the contact angles between matrix resin and aramid fibers are measured at different degrees of cure, which indicate that the contact angles increased initially and then decreased after the consolidation. Second, surface energy components of aramid fibers are determined from the contact angle using the geometric-mean equations. Finally, the influences of various surface treatments on the surface energy of aramid fibers are analyzed. These results play an important role for designing and evaluating the fiber/ matrix interfacial strength of aramid fiber-reinforced composites.

Polymers, paint and wood industries, Polymères, industries des peintures et bois, Sciences exactes et technologie, Exact sciences and technology, Sciences appliquees, Applied sciences, Industrie des polymeres, peintures, bois, Polymer industry, paints, wood, Technologie des polymères, Technology of polymers, Formes d'application et semiproduits, Forms of application and semi-finished materials, Matériaux composites, Composites, Adhésivité, Adhesivity, Adhesividad, Composition chimique, Chemical composition, Composición química, Etude expérimentale, Experimental study, Estudio experimental, Fibre naturelle, Natural fiber, Fibra natural, Fibre végétale, Plant fiber, Fibra vegetal, Interface fibre matrice, Matrix fiber interface, Interfase fibra matriz, Matériau composite, Composite material, Material compuesto, Mouillabilité, Wettability, Remojabilidad, Oléfine polymère, Olefin polymer, Olefina polímero, Propriété interface, Interface properties, Propiedad interfase, Propriété mécanique, Mechanical properties, Propiedad mecánica, Propriété surface, Surface properties, Propiedad superficie, Propène polymère, Propylene polymer, Propeno polímero, Ramie, Ramio, Rugosité, Roughness, Rugosidad, Résistance cisaillement, Shear strength, Resistencia cizallamiento, Traitement par plasma, Plasma assisted processing, Traitement surface, Surface treatment, Tratamiento superficie, Résistance cisaillement interfacial, alcohol, atmospheric pressure plasma, hydrophobicity, interfacial shear strength, and ramie fiber

To improve interfacial adhesion between hydrophilic cellulose fiber and hydrophobic polymer matrix, ramie fibers were pretreated with isopropanol and n-butanol and then plasma treated using an atmospheric pressure plasma apparatus. For the plasma-treated fibers, the scanning electron microscopy shows increased surface roughness and the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis shows a significant increase of C―C bond in isopropanol-pretreated group, whereas for n-butanol-pretreated group the raise of C=O bonds is most noticeable. For both alcohol-pretreated and plasma-treated groups, the water contact angles increase significantly. Microbond pull-out test shows interfacial shear strengths of fiber/polypropylene (PP) samples increase by 47 and 34%, respectively, for the two groups compared with the control. Therefore, it can be concluded that the reaction between both alcohols and cellulose induced by plasma can indeed create a fiber surface with increased roughness and decreased polarity, and thus is more compatible to PP.

Polymers, paint and wood industries, Polymères, industries des peintures et bois, Sciences exactes et technologie, Exact sciences and technology, Sciences appliquees, Applied sciences, Industrie des polymeres, peintures, bois, Polymer industry, paints, wood, Technologie des polymères, Technology of polymers, Domaines d'application, Application fields, Adhésif, Adhesive, Adhesivo, Aluminium alliage, Aluminium alloy, Aluminio aleación, Assemblage collé, Adhesive joint, Ensambladura pegada, Collage, Adhesive bonding, Enlace adhesivo, Epoxyde résine, Epoxy resin, Epóxido resina, Essai flexion, Bending test, Ensayo flexion, Etude expérimentale, Experimental study, Estudio experimental, Fibre carbone, Carbon fiber, Fibra carbón, Fibre minérale, Mineral fiber, Fibra inorgánica, Loi Weibull, Weibull distribution, Ley Weibull, Matériau composite, Composite material, Material compuesto, Matériau renforcé fibre, Fiber reinforced material, Material reforzado fibra, Méthode mesure, Measurement method, Método medida, Propriété mécanique, Mechanical properties, Propiedad mecánica, Résistance rupture, Rupture strength, Resistencia ruptura, Sablage, Sand blasting, Enarenación, Stratifié, Laminate, Estratificado, Tissu textile, Woven material, Tela textil, Traitement surface, Surface treatment, Tratamiento superficie, Uréthanne polymère, Polyurethane, Uretano polímero, Adhésif structural, Tissu carbone, ENF test, aluminium―composite joints, reliability, structural adhesives, and surface treatment

The composite materials of the polymeric matrix reinforced with carbon fibre have an extensive industrial application as they provide light and resistant structures. However, in many products (automobiles, aircraft, etc.), the composite materials must be joined to other components manufactured with aluminium alloys. The use of structural adhesive to bond these materials may be a good alternative if a specific design of the adhesive joint is carried out by maximising its performance and reducing its limitations. In the current work, the end-notched flexure (ENF) fracture test is used to assess the mechanical behaviour of the adhesive joint to facilitate the choice of the best adhesive and surface treatment of the adherends. However, in industrial applications of a great technical requirement (where the safety of staff or property may be at risk), the former experimental results are not enough and must be complemented with methods that can provide additional guarantee for a suitable reliability. For this purpose, a statistic analysis of the obtained experimental data has been carried out by means of the application of a Weibull distribution, in order to propose the adhesive and surface treatment that best combines the mechanical performance and high reliability. At the end, we can conclude that the epoxy adhesive with sand-blasting treatment for the aluminium and the peel ply for the carbon fibre has the greatest reliability (more than 90% for loads until 900 N).

Polymers, paint and wood industries, Polymères, industries des peintures et bois, Sciences exactes et technologie, Exact sciences and technology, Sciences appliquees, Applied sciences, Industrie des polymeres, peintures, bois, Polymer industry, paints, wood, Technologie des polymères, Technology of polymers, Formes d'application et semiproduits, Forms of application and semi-finished materials, Feuilles et films, Sheets and films, Metaux. Metallurgie, Metals. Metallurgy, Corrosion, Protection contre la corrosion, Corrosion prevention, Acier, Steel, Acero, Chrome, Chromium, Cromo, Chrom, Corrosion sel, Salt corrosion, Corrosión sal, Salzkorrosion, Déformation uniaxiale, Uniaxial strain, Deformación uniaxial, Einachsige Verformung, Dépôt électrolytique, Electrodeposition, Depósito electrolítico, Elektroplattieren, Ester polymère, Ester polymer, Ester polímero, Ethylène téréphtalate polymère, Ethylene terephthalate polymer, Etileno tereftalato polímero, Etude expérimentale, Experimental study, Estudio experimental, Experimentelle Untersuchung, Oléfine polymère, Olefin polymer, Olefina polímero, Propriété mécanique, Mechanical properties, Propiedad mecánica, Relation contrainte déformation, Stress strain relation, Relación tensión deformación, Revêtement anticorrosion, Corrosion protective coatings, Résistance corrosion, Corrosion resistance, Resistencia corrosión, Korrosionsbestaendigkeit, Traitement surface, Surface treatment, Tratamiento superficie, Oberflaechenbehandlung, ECCS, deformation, degradation, polymer, and saline

This research evaluated the degradation performance of metal―polymer laminates. The material employed was an electrolytic chromium-coated steel (ECCS) sheet, protected by polyethylene teraphthalate (PET). This composite was submitted to uniaxial deformations simulating those occurring in the formation of containers. Later, it was electrochemically tested in 3.5% NaCI w/v solution and characterised by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Finally, an evaluation of the degradation activity was made to determine the potential performance of the composite in canning applications. The results indicated that the deformation―degradation correlations of the layers depended on the plastic deformation, strain energy, surface quality of the PET polymer free from defects (with respect to a control sample), lack of continuity of the chromium oxide layer at the interface level due to the generation of microcracks, grain deformation in the metallic layers ― both of ECCS and chromium layer ― due to the generation of Luder's bands, loss of adherence detected by electrochemical tests and surface morphological changes of the protective polymer by uniaxial deformations.

Polymers, paint and wood industries, Polymères, industries des peintures et bois, Sciences exactes et technologie, Exact sciences and technology, Sciences appliquees, Applied sciences, Industrie des polymeres, peintures, bois, Polymer industry, paints, wood, Technologie des polymères, Technology of polymers, Domaines d'application, Application fields, Metaux. Metallurgie, Metals. Metallurgy, Assemblage et découpage thermique: aspects métallurgiques, Joining, thermal cutting: metallurgical aspects, Collage, Adhesive bonding, Acier inoxydable, Stainless steel, Acero inoxidable, Nichtrostender Stahl, Adhésivité, Adhesivity, Adhesividad, Aluminium, Aluminio, Assemblage collé, Adhesive joint, Ensambladura pegada, Klebverbindung, Etude expérimentale, Experimental study, Estudio experimental, Experimentelle Untersuchung, Joint recouvrement, Lap joint, Junta recubierta, Mode rupture, Fracture mode, Modo ruptura, Morphologie, Morphology, Morfología, Mouillabilité, Wettability, Remojabilidad, Benetzbarkeit, Propriété mécanique, Mechanical properties, Propiedad mecánica, Propriété surface, Surface properties, Propiedad superficie, Oberflaecheneigenschaft, Relation mise en oeuvre propriété, Property processing relationship, Relación puesta en marcha propiedad, Résistance cisaillement, Shear strength, Resistencia cizallamiento, Scherfestigkeit, Traitement chimique, Chemical treatment, Tratamiento químico, Traitement mécanique, Mechanical treatment, Tratamiento mecánico, Traitement par plasma, Plasma assisted processing, Traitement surface, Surface treatment, Tratamiento superficie, Oberflaechenbehandlung, Traitement thermique, Heat treatment, Tratamiento térmico, Waermebehandlung, aluminum, cohesivity, contact angle, hybrid treatment, lap shear strength, and surface wettability

Adhesion performance of adhesively bonded metal joints with aluminum and stainless steel was much dependent on the surface treatment of the adherends. This work was aimed at optimizing hybrid surface treatments to improve wettability of metal surfaces and strength of adhesive metal joints, which was a combination of mechanical, chemical, and energetic surface treatment methods. The surface free energies and wettability of hybrid surface-treated metal adherends were measured for different treatment conditions with abrasion, grit blast, sulfuric acid etching, phosphoric acid anodizing, silane treatment, plasma treatment, and flame treatment. The surface morphology and chemical composition of the metal adherends were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and the bond strengths of the single-lap joints composed of aluminum and stainless steel adherends were measured with respect to hybrid surface treatment conditions. From the experiments, an effective hybrid surface treatment condition was suggested for metal surfaces with super-hydrophilic characteristics. Also, the failure mode of adhesive metal joints was evaluated by photo-surface analysis method.

Polymers, paint and wood industries, Polymères, industries des peintures et bois, Sciences exactes et technologie, Exact sciences and technology, Sciences appliquees, Applied sciences, Metaux. Metallurgie, Metals. Metallurgy, Corrosion, Protection contre la corrosion, Corrosion prevention, Agent accrochage, Coupling agent, Agente enganche, Aluminium, Aluminio, Assemblage collé, Adhesive joint, Ensambladura pegada, Klebverbindung, Composition chimique, Chemical composition, Composición química, Chemische Zusammensetzung, Corrosion sel, Salt corrosion, Corrosión sal, Salzkorrosion, Cérium Chlorure, Cerium Chlorides, Cerio Cloruro, Etude expérimentale, Experimental study, Estudio experimental, Experimentelle Untersuchung, Morphologie, Morphology, Morfología, Mouillabilité, Wettability, Remojabilidad, Benetzbarkeit, Propriété mécanique, Mechanical properties, Propiedad mecánica, Propriété surface, Surface properties, Propiedad superficie, Oberflaecheneigenschaft, Résistance cisaillement, Shear strength, Resistencia cizallamiento, Scherfestigkeit, Résistance corrosion, Corrosion resistance, Resistencia corrosión, Korrosionsbestaendigkeit, Silane organique, Organic silane, Silano orgánico, Température cryogénique, Cryogenic temperature, Temperatura criogénica, Traitement surface, Surface treatment, Tratamiento superficie, Oberflaechenbehandlung, aluminum, corrosion resistance, cryogenic test, hybrid treatment, lap shear strength, and silane coupling agent

A silane-cerium treatment was applied on an aluminum adherend to simultaneously improve the bonding performance and corrosion resistance of the adhesively bonded aluminum joint in cryogenic applications, such as with liquefied natural gas containment tanks. The lap shear strengths and corrosion performances of the adhesively bonded joints composed of treated aluminum adherends were measured with respect to the silage―cerium treatment and the surface pretreatment on the aluminum adherend. The bonding characteristics of the aluminum adherend were investigated by measuring the water contact angle and conducting the potentiodynamic polarization test after the aluminum adherends with different surface treatments of silane-cerium were immersed in a 0.5 M NaCl solution. In addition, the surfaces were analyzed with scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to characterize the chemical compositions of the silane―cerium-treated aluminum adherend. The experimental results show that an appropriate silane-cerium treatment on the aluminum adherend produces an effective corrosion-resistant layer and that it has a highly reliable bonding characteristic for the adhesive joint at a cryogenic temperature of ―150 °C.

Polymers, paint and wood industries, Polymères, industries des peintures et bois, Sciences exactes et technologie, Exact sciences and technology, Sciences appliquees, Applied sciences, Industrie des polymeres, peintures, bois, Polymer industry, paints, wood, Technologie des polymères, Technology of polymers, Formes d'application et semiproduits, Forms of application and semi-finished materials, Matériaux composites, Composites, Adhésif, Adhesive, Adhesivo, Angle contact, Contact angle, Angulo contacto, Caoutchouc EPDM, EPDM rubber, Caucho EPDM, Caoutchouc naturel, Natural rubber, Caucho natural, Etude expérimentale, Experimental study, Estudio experimental, Fibre aramide, Aramid fiber, Fibra aramida, Fibre revêtue, Coated fiber, Fibra revestida, Fibre synthétique, Synthetic fiber, Fibra sintética, Interface fibre matrice, Matrix fiber interface, Interfase fibra matriz, Latex, Látex, Matériau composite, Composite material, Material compuesto, Matériau renforcé fibre, Fiber reinforced material, Material reforzado fibra, Phénoplaste, Phenoplasts, Fenoplasto, Propriété surface, Surface properties, Propiedad superficie, Relation mise en oeuvre propriété, Property processing relationship, Relación puesta en marcha propiedad, Traitement surface, Surface treatment, Tratamiento superficie, Vulcanisat, Vulcanizate, Vulcanizado, Vulcanisation, Vulcanization, Vulcanización, RFL, aging, aramid, elastomer, peroxide-cured, and sulphur-cured

The performance of fibre-reinforced composites is strongly dependent on the nature and the strength of the fibre―matrix interface. Good interfacial bonding is required to ensure load transfer from matrix to reinforcing fibres. For rubber-reinforced composites, resorcinol formaldehyde latex (RFL) is known as a fibre surface coating which is able to provide good adhesion between rubber and fibres. But the performance of this substance in many cases can be largely affected due to exposure of the coated fibres to air and light. Moreover, most data available in the literature concern sulphur-cured elastomers only. In the present study, aramid fibres are investigated, because of their significantly higher modulus and strength compared to other commercial fibres. The adhesion of these fibres in compounds based on sulphur-cured natural rubber and peroxide-cured ethylene propylene diene rubber is investigated after being coated with RFL which is the most common adhesive coating for various sort of fibres, including aramid. The effect of physical interaction between fibres and rubbers is shown to be minor, and the effect of ageing of RFL on its ability to bond with rubbers using peroxide and sulphur curing systems are shown. As a result of ageing, ozone is able to decrease the double bonds of the latex part of the RFL, which negatively affects the RFL―rubber adhesion in sulphur-cured systems, while it has almost no effect in peroxide-cured systems. It is also discussed that, unlike in sulphur vulcanization in which bonding happens just between the latex in the RFL and rubber, peroxide is able to generate bonds between elastomer and the resin structure of the RFL-coating.

Polymers, paint and wood industries, Polymères, industries des peintures et bois, Sciences exactes et technologie, Exact sciences and technology, Sciences appliquees, Applied sciences, Industrie des polymeres, peintures, bois, Polymer industry, paints, wood, Technologie des polymères, Technology of polymers, Formes d'application et semiproduits, Forms of application and semi-finished materials, Fibres et fils, Fibers and threads, Absorption eau, Water absorption, Absorción agua, Absorption liquide, Liquid absorption, Absorción líquida, Adhésif, Adhesive, Adhesivo, Adhésivité, Adhesivity, Adhesividad, Collage, Adhesive bonding, Enlace adhesivo, Coton, Cotton, Algodón, Etude expérimentale, Experimental study, Estudio experimental, Fibre naturelle, Natural fiber, Fibra natural, Fibre synthétique, Synthetic fiber, Fibra sintética, Fibre végétale, Plant fiber, Fibra vegetal, Morphologie, Morphology, Morfología, Mouillabilité, Wettability, Remojabilidad, Oléfine polymère, Olefin polymer, Olefina polímero, Propriété surface, Surface properties, Propiedad superficie, Propène polymère, Propylene polymer, Propeno polímero, Relation mise en oeuvre propriété, Property processing relationship, Relación puesta en marcha propiedad, Relation mise en oeuvre structure, Structure processing relationship, Relación puesta en marcha estructura, Stratifié, Laminate, Estratificado, Tissu textile, Woven material, Tela textil, Traitement par plasma, Plasma assisted processing, Traitement surface, Surface treatment, Tratamiento superficie, Résistance lavage, adhesion strength, cotton, laminated fabric, oxygen plasma, polypropylene, surface modification, and wettability

In this study, improvement in the adhesion strength of plasma-pretreated and laminated cotton/polypropylene (PP) fabrics using acrylic-based adhesive was investigated. Low-temperature, low-pressure oxygen plasma was utilized for surface modification of cotton/PP-laminated fabrics. Water absorption time was measured on plasma-treated cotton fabrics at different plasma power and treatment time conditions. The plasma conditions providing the fastest liquid absorption on the surface were selected and applied during plasma pretreatments. Surface wettability increased with increasing plasma power and plasma exposure time. Plasma-induced surface morphology changes were observed via Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed that oxygen content on the surface increased with plasma treatment, which contributed to the surface polarity and hydrophilicity. Peel bond strength results of untreated and plasma-treated samples were analyzed to determine the effect of plasma pretreatment process. Adhesion strength values of laminated samples, before washing and after 40 wash cycles, were determined by peel bond strength tests. Before washing, adhesion strength of plasma pre-treated, laminated samples was 28―60% higher than that of untreated laminated fabrics. After 40 wash cycles, adhesion strength of plasma pre-treated and laminated samples was about 40-69% higher than the untreated laminated fabrics. Peel bond strength values decreased with the increased number of wash cycles. Plasma pretreatment enhanced both the adhesion strength and washing resistance of laminated samples.

Polymers, paint and wood industries, Polymères, industries des peintures et bois, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences biologiques fondamentales et appliquees. Psychologie, Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology, Industries agroalimentaires, Food industries, Généralités, General aspects, Manutention, stockage, conditionnement, transport, Handling, storage, packaging, transport, Acier inoxydable, Stainless steel, Acero inoxidable, Adhérence, Adhesion, Adherencia, Angle contact, Contact angle, Angulo contacto, Antibactérien, Antibacterial agent, Antibacteriano, Argent, Silver, Plata, Biofilm, Contamination biologique, Biological contamination, Contaminación biológica, Etude expérimentale, Experimental study, Estudio experimental, Hydrophobicité, Hydrophobicity, Hidrofobicidad, Nanoparticule, Nanoparticle, Nanopartícula, Particule métallique, Metal particle, Partícula metálica, Produit alimentaire, Foodstuff, Producto alimenticio, Propriété surface, Surface properties, Propiedad superficie, Traitement surface, Surface treatment, Tratamiento superficie, biofilm, contact angle, food contact surface, hydrophobicity, microbial adhesion, and stainless steel

The ability of silver nanoparticles to modify the thermodynamic characteristics of stainless steel surfaces in order to reduce the adhesion process and thereby inhibit biofilm formation was evaluated. We observed that silver nanoparticles were able to decrease the contact angle of stainless steel from 73.20° when conditioned with water to 12.10° making the surface more hydrophilic. Thus, the thermodynamics of adhesion for all the evaluated bacteria was more unfavorable when the stainless steel surfaces were conditioned with the nanoparticles. Regarding the bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus was the most hydrophilic (p < 0.05) followed for Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Listeria innocua. Thereby, the silver nanoparticles demonstrated efficiency in inhibiting theoretical adhesion by altering the surface hydrophobicity that can potentially hamper cellular adhesion and prevent biofilm formation.

Polymers, paint and wood industries, Polymères, industries des peintures et bois, Sciences exactes et technologie, Exact sciences and technology, Sciences appliquees, Applied sciences, Industrie des polymeres, peintures, bois, Polymer industry, paints, wood, Technologie des polymères, Technology of polymers, Formes d'application et semiproduits, Forms of application and semi-finished materials, Matériaux composites, Composites, Domaines d'application, Application fields, Adhésif, Adhesive, Adhesivo, Adhésivité, Adhesivity, Adhesividad, Aluminium, Aluminio, Collage, Adhesive bonding, Enlace adhesivo, Energie rupture, Fracture energy, Energía ruptura, Epoxyde résine, Epoxy resin, Epóxido resina, Essai flexion, Bending test, Ensayo flexion, Etude théorique, Theoretical study, Estudio teórico, Fibre carbone, Carbon fiber, Fibra carbón, Fibre minérale, Mineral fiber, Fibra inorgánica, Matériau composite, Composite material, Material compuesto, Modélisation, Modeling, Modelización, Méthode mesure, Measurement method, Método medida, Propriété surface, Surface properties, Propiedad superficie, Traitement surface, Surface treatment, Tratamiento superficie, Uréthanne polymère, Polyurethane, Uretano polímero, Adhésif structural, Effet épaisseur, ENF test, aluminium-composite joints, fracture energy, and structural adhesives

The end-notched flexure (ENF) test calculates the value of mode II fracture energy in adhesive bonding between the substrates of same nature. Traditional methods of calculating fracture energy in the ENF test are not suitable in cases where the thickness of the adhesive is non-negligible compared with adherent thicknesses. To address this issue, a specific methodology for calculating mode II fracture energy has been proposed in this paper. To illustrate the applicability of the proposed method, the fracture energy was calculated by the ENF test for adhesive bonds between aluminium and a composite material, which considered two different types of adhesive (epoxy and polyurethane) and various surface treatments. The proposed calculation model provides higher values of fracture energy than those obtained from the simplified models that consider the adhesive thickness to be zero, supporting the conclusion that the calculation of mode II fracture energy for adhesives with non-negligible thickness relative to their adherents should be based on mathematical models, such as the method proposed in this paper, that incorporate the influence of this thickness.

Polymers, paint and wood industries, Polymères, industries des peintures et bois, Sciences exactes et technologie, Exact sciences and technology, Sciences appliquees, Applied sciences, Industrie des polymeres, peintures, bois, Polymer industry, paints, wood, Technologie des polymères, Technology of polymers, Domaines d'application, Application fields, Adhésif, Adhesive, Adhesivo, Adhésivité, Adhesivity, Adhesividad, Aluminium alliage, Aluminium alloy, Aluminio aleación, Anodisation, Anodizing, Anodización, Collage, Adhesive bonding, Enlace adhesivo, Epoxyde résine, Epoxy resin, Epóxido resina, Etude expérimentale, Experimental study, Estudio experimental, Fibre carbone, Carbon fiber, Fibra carbón, Fibre minérale, Mineral fiber, Fibra inorgánica, Matériau composite, Composite material, Material compuesto, Matériau renforcé fibre, Fiber reinforced material, Material reforzado fibra, Morphologie, Morphology, Morfología, Propriété mécanique, Mechanical properties, Propiedad mecánica, Propriété surface, Surface properties, Propiedad superficie, Stratifié, Laminate, Estratificado, Topographie surface, Surface topography, Traitement surface, Surface treatment, Tratamiento superficie, Ténacité, Fracture toughness, Tenacidad, interfacial toughness, mechanical interlock, micro-pattern, mixed-mode fracture, and surface morphology

The aim of the present study is to demonstrate the effect of micro- and nano-morphological modifications of aluminum surface on adhesion strength. While former studies have investigated surface morphological changes after employing various surface treatment methods, this study proposes a micro-patterning method to provide designed surface topography for adhesion strength enhancement. An oxalic acid-based anodizing process was also applied after micro-scale patterning on aluminum surface to incorporate nanopores into the micro-patterned surface topography. The adhesion strength of an aluminum/composite bond was assessed in terms of interfacial fracture toughness under various mixed-mode loading conditions using a single-leg bending test. Micro-scale periodic grooves incorporated with nanoporous surface morphology significantly improved the adhesion strength. Although bond strength enhancement can be attained in any mixed mode loading condition, the surface topography modification technique is more effective in sliding mode dominant loadings than in opening-mode dominant loadings. The bond strength improvement is explained by the increased implementation of mechanical interlock mechanism which increases the resistance for crack growth by altering the trajectory of crack propagation from the bi-material interface toward the polymeric composite.

Polymers, paint and wood industries, Polymères, industries des peintures et bois, Sciences exactes et technologie, Exact sciences and technology, Sciences appliquees, Applied sciences, Industrie des polymeres, peintures, bois, Polymer industry, paints, wood, Technologie des polymères, Technology of polymers, Formes d'application et semiproduits, Forms of application and semi-finished materials, Matériaux composites, Composites, Agent accrochage, Coupling agent, Agente enganche, Effet substituant, Substituent effect, Efecto sustituyente, Epoxyde résine, Epoxy resin, Epóxido resina, Etude expérimentale, Experimental study, Estudio experimental, Matériau composite, Composite material, Material compuesto, Mobilité moléculaire, Molecular mobility, Movilidad molecular, Particule sphérique, Spherical particle, Partícula esférica, Propriété mécanique, Mechanical properties, Propiedad mecánica, Relation mise en oeuvre propriété, Property processing relationship, Relación puesta en marcha propiedad, Résistance flexion, Bending strength, Resistencia flexión, Silane organique, Organic silane, Silano orgánico, Silice, Silica, Sílice, Traitement surface, Surface treatment, Tratamiento superficie, Ténacité, Fracture toughness, Tenacidad, epoxy resin, fracture toughness, glycidoxy group, silane coupling agent, and surface treatment

The surface treatment of spherical silica particles using a silane coupling agent with a glycidoxy group was conducted and the effect of the alkoxy group number on the molecular mobility of the silane chain was investigated by 1H pulse nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Silanes with di-alkoxy and tri-alkoxy structures were used, and the silica particles were treated with 2-propanol solution and heated at 120°C for 24 h after solvent evaporation. The surface coverage of the silica surface was in the range from two to three layers. For multilayer coverage, linear chain and network structures were expected to form on the surface by polycondensation reaction using the di- and tri-alkoxy structures, respectively. However, the relaxation times for silane chains with both di- and tri-alkoxy structures measured by pulse NMR were short, which indicates that both silane chains formed rigid network structures. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis revealed that ring opening of the epoxy group occurred, followed by reaction to form the network structure, even with the di-alkoxy structure. Ring opening of the epoxy group could be reduced by setting the heating temperature at 80 °C. There was a significant difference in flexibility between the silane-layers with di- and tri-alkoxy structures after heating at 80 °C, as reflected by the relaxation time.

Polymers, paint and wood industries, Polymères, industries des peintures et bois, Sciences exactes et technologie, Exact sciences and technology, Sciences appliquees, Applied sciences, Industrie des polymeres, peintures, bois, Polymer industry, paints, wood, Technologie des polymères, Technology of polymers, Formes d'application et semiproduits, Forms of application and semi-finished materials, Matériaux composites, Composites, Acrylate copolymère, Acrylate copolymer, Acrilato copolímero, Adhésivité, Adhesivity, Adhesividad, Agent accrochage, Coupling agent, Agente enganche, Copolymère greffé, Graft copolymer, Copolímero injertado, Copolymérisation photochimique, Photochemical copolymerization, Copolimerización fotoquímica, Copolymérisation radiochimique, Radiochemical copolymerization, Copolimerización radioquímica, Etude expérimentale, Experimental study, Estudio experimental, Faisceau électronique, Electron beam, Haz electrónico, Fibre carbone, Carbon fiber, Fibra carbón, Fibre minérale, Mineral fiber, Fibra inorgánica, Matériau composite, Composite material, Material compuesto, Matériau fibre unidirectionnelle, Unidirectional fiber material, Material fibra unidireccional, Mécanisme réaction, Reaction mechanism, Mecanismo reacción, Propriété interface, Interface properties, Propiedad interfase, Propriété mécanique, Mechanical properties, Propiedad mecánica, Propriété surface, Surface properties, Propiedad superficie, Rayonnement UV, Ultraviolet radiation, Radiación ultravioleta, Résistance cisaillement, Shear strength, Resistencia cizallamiento, Résistance flexion, Bending strength, Resistencia flexión, Traitement surface, Surface treatment, Tratamiento superficie, Résistance cisaillement interfacial, carbon fibers, coupling agent, electron beam curing, fiber/matrix bond, interface, and polymer-matrix composites (PMCs)

Acrylate functionalities were grafted at the surface of carbon fibers in order to improve the adhesion strength with an acrylate matrix cured by electron beam. An isocyanate bearing aliphatic urethane acrylate was used as a coupling agent. As revealed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the isocyanate groups reacted with carboxylic acids and hydroxyl groups located at the surface of the fiber, leading to a covalent bonding of the acrylate groups. The adhesion strength was measured by a micromechanical test derived from the pull-out test. A significant improvement of the interfacial shear strength was obtained (+91%) with an electron beam curing. For comparison, an isothermal cure by UV was also investigated and led to the same level of adhesion strength. The improvement was also proved by an increase in the 90° flexural strength of unidirectional composites (+38%). Grafting functionalities that were compatible with the radical mechanism of the polymerization of the matrix appeared to be a promising strategy for the improvement of the mechanical properties of carbon fiber-acrylate composites cured by electron beam.

Polymers, paint and wood industries, Polymères, industries des peintures et bois, Sciences exactes et technologie, Exact sciences and technology, Sciences appliquees, Applied sciences, Industrie des polymeres, peintures, bois, Polymer industry, paints, wood, Technologie des polymères, Technology of polymers, Formes d'application et semiproduits, Forms of application and semi-finished materials, Stratifiés, Laminates, Domaines d'application, Application fields, Adhésif, Adhesive, Adhesivo, Aluminium alliage, Aluminium alloy, Aluminio aleación, Argile, Clay, Arcilla, Assemblage collé, Adhesive joint, Ensambladura pegada, Collage, Adhesive bonding, Enlace adhesivo, Durée vie fatigue, Fatigue life, Longevidad fatiga, Epoxyde résine, Epoxy resin, Epóxido resina, Etude expérimentale, Experimental study, Estudio experimental, Fibre aramide, Aramid fiber, Fibra aramida, Fibre minérale, Mineral fiber, Fibra inorgánica, Fibre synthétique, Synthetic fiber, Fibra sintética, Fibre verre, Glass fiber, Fibra vidrio, Joint recouvrement, Lap joint, Junta recubierta, Matériau composite, Composite material, Material compuesto, Matériau renforcé dispersion, Dispersion reinforced material, Material renforzado dispersión, Matériau renforcé fibre, Fiber reinforced material, Material reforzado fibra, Nanocomposite, Nanocompuesto, Propriété mécanique, Mechanical properties, Propiedad mecánica, Résistance cisaillement, Shear strength, Resistencia cizallamiento, Stratifié, Laminate, Estratificado, Traitement surface, Surface treatment, Tratamiento superficie, Adhésif nanocomposite, Kevlar, adhesive joint, aluminium, chemical treatment, composites, fatigue, lap shear strength, and nanoclay

Adhesive lap joint between glass fibre/epoxy composites and aluminium alloy (2014 T4) was prepared by an in situ moulding process using a matched die mould. The surface of aluminium alloy was treated with chromic acid before adhesive bonding. Lap shear strength and fatigue life were evaluated in tensile mode and tension-compression mode (at 40% of lap shear load of adhesive joint), respectively. Knurling on the surface of aluminium alloy improved the lap shear strength of the adhesive joint but did not influence the fatigue life of the same. Lap shear strength and fatigue life of adhesive joint made with neat epoxy adhesive and reinforcement of an intermediate layer of Kevlar® between glass/epoxy composite and aluminium alloy were observed to be 0.44 kg/mm2 and 3.6 × 105 cycles, respectively. In another case, lap shear strength and fatigue life of similar type of adhesive joint made from nanoclay (Cloisite 30B)-reinforced epoxy adhesive and without reinforcement of an intermediate layer of Kevlar® were observed to be 0.38 kg/mm2 and 2.3 × 105 cycles, respectively. Whereas, lap shear strength and fatigue life of adhesive joint made from nanoclay-reinforced epoxy adhesive along with the reinforcement of an intermediate layer of Kevlar® were 0.48 kg/mm2 and 3.9 × 105 cycles, respectively. Therefore, adhesive joint made from nanoclay-reinforced epoxy adhesive along with the reinforcement of an intermediate layer of Kevlar® was the best.

Polymers, paint and wood industries, Polymères, industries des peintures et bois, Sciences exactes et technologie, Exact sciences and technology, Sciences appliquees, Applied sciences, Industrie des polymeres, peintures, bois, Polymer industry, paints, wood, Technologie des polymères, Technology of polymers, Appareillage et mise en oeuvre, Machinery and processing, Matières plastiques, Plastics, Revêtement, métallisation, coloration, Coating, metallization, dyeing, Action humidité, Humidity effect, Acción humedad, Adhérence, Adhesion, Adherencia, Energie surface, Surface energy, Energía superficie, Ethylène polymère, Polyethylene, Etileno polímero, Etude expérimentale, Experimental study, Estudio experimental, Morphologie, Morphology, Morfología, Oléfine polymère, Olefin polymer, Olefina polímero, Propriété surface, Surface properties, Propiedad superficie, Propène polymère, Propylene polymer, Propeno polímero, Relation mise en oeuvre propriété, Property processing relationship, Relación puesta en marcha propiedad, Relation mise en oeuvre structure, Structure processing relationship, Relación puesta en marcha estructura, Traitement par plasma, Plasma assisted processing, Traitement surface, Surface treatment, Tratamiento superficie, Vieillissement accéléré, Artificial ageing, Envejecimiento acelerado, adhesion, ageing, forced air plasma pre-treatment, surface energy, and thermoplastics

This paper describes our investigation of the effects of forced air plasma treatment on polypropylene and polyethylene. The morphology of the treated surfaces has been carefully examined using a variety of tools including optical profiling. The complex surface morphology was observed to change with increasing treatment and varying intensity of the treatment over the surface. Optimum treatment conditions have been deduced using surface energy determinations and can be compared with the morphological changes. Determinations of surface energy, both the polar and non-polar components, have been made after exposure to varying moisture conditions for varying times. Different results are obtained for different environments and from different materials. These results demonstrate that forced air plasma treatment is a highly effective means of increasing the surface energy of polymers, which can be long-lasting, provided the treated surfaces are kept in dry conditions.