Thin films and coatings are used for a variety of purposes — decorative, protective, functional, etc. — over a broad spectrum of applications. Irrespective of the intended function, adequate adhesion to the underlying substrate is of cardinal importance. Adhesion of films and coatings is dictated by a legion of factors, from substrate attributes such as surface energetics, topography, and pretreatment; to mode of deposition and deposition parameters and their thickness; and mechanical properties, including internal stresses in the film or coating. Adhesion Aspects of Thin Films, Volume 1, addresses these issues.

The papers contained in this volume were originally presented at the First International Symposium on Adhesion Aspects of Thin Films, held under the auspices of MST Conferences in Newark, NJ, October 28-29, 1999. Most of the papers deal with films, but a few dealing with coatings, i.e. relatively thick films, are also included.

From the Preface: “...Even a cursory look at the literature will evince that there has been tremendous interest and brisk activity in understanding and tailoring adhesion of films and coatings, so we decided this symposium was both opportune and needed. This symposium was planned with the following objectives in mind: (i) to bring together the community interested in this topic, (ii) to provide a forum for discussion of latest developments, (iii) to provide an opportunity for cross-pollination of ideas; and (iv) to identify areas which offered good promise and warranted vigorous pursuit...”

Target Audience: Any researcher, technologist, or student interested in the adhesion of thin films and coatings.

Table of Contents:

Stresses in Thin Films

Fundamental Aspects of Residual Stress Evolution in Thin Metal Films During Energetic Particle Deposition

Surface Stress Effects on the Intrinsic Stress in Thin Films

Influence of the Ion Bombardment on the Stress in Thin Films Produced by Ion Beam and RF Sputtering Techniques

Delamination of Thin Hard Coatings Induced by Combined Residual Stress and Topography

Effects of Surface Treatments on the Adhesion of Metallic Films to Ceramic Substrates

The State-of-the-Art in Adhesion of CVD Diamond to Carbide Cutting Inserts

Adhesion Improvement of Diamond Films to Silicon Nitride Substrate for Cutting Tools

Quantifying the Effect of Carbon on the Practical Adhesion of Aluminum Films to Sapphire Substrates

The Effect of a Titanium-Based Interlayer on the Adhesion of Ceramic Coatings

Effect of Annealing on Residual Stress, Strength, Adhesion and Wear Resistance of Thin, Hard Coatings on Low Alloy Steel

Study of Adhesion and Tribological Properties of Some Ceramic Films

Properties of Oxide Coatings Deposited on a Plastic Substrate by a Successive Pulsed Plasma Anodisation Process

Practical Adhesion of Organic Coatings to Metals: The Role of the Interphase and Its Residual Stresses

Epoxy-Diamine Adhesives on Metals: The Interphase Formation and Characterization

Improving the Adhesion of Plasma Polymerized Thin Fluorocarbon Films on Silicon using (CHF₃ + SF₆) Radio-Frequency Discharge Pretreatments