Polymeric materials are intrinsically not very adhesionable, necessitating some form of surface treatment to enhance their adhesion characteristics to other materials. The papers in this volume, originally presented at the 2nd International Symposium on Polymer Surface Modification: Relevance to Adhesion, held in Newark, NJ, May 24-26, 1999, address this issue. The book is organized in three sections: plasma surface modification; other types of surface modification; and general papers.

From the Preface: “...Since the first symposium on this topic, there had been a tremendous R&D activity in devising novel or ameliorating the existing techniques for surface modifcation of polymers. So, it became quite apparent that there was definitely a need for a follow-up symposium...Now turning to this volume, it contains a total of 32 papers. Apropos, a few selected papers are also included in this volume from the Second International Symposium on Plasma Polymerization/Deposition: Fundamental and Applied Aspects held in the same week...All manuscripts were rigorously peer reviewed and suitably revised (some twice or thrice) before inclusion in this volume...”

Target Audience: Any researcher, technologist, or student interested in adhesion to modified polymer surfaces.

Partial Table of Contents:

Plasma Surface Modification Techniques:

Surface Modification of Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) in RF Glow-Discharge Plasmas: XPS Characterization

Chemically Well-Defined Surface Functionalization of Polyethylene and Polypropylene by Pulsed Plasma Modification Followed by Grafting of Molecules

A Novel Atmospheric Plasma System for Polymer Surface Treatment

Treatment of Vulcanized SBR Rubber with Low-Pressure Gas Plasma Using Oxygen-Nitrogen Mixtures

Significance of Interfacial Redox Reactions and Formation of Metal—Organic Complexes for the Adhesion of Metals on Pristine and Plasma-Treated Polymers

Improved Rubber Adhesion to Textile Tire Cords by Deposition of Plasma-Polymerized Films

Surface Modification of Powders Using a Fluidized Bed Plasma Reactor

Other/Miscellaneous Surface Modification Techniques:

Surface Modification of Polymers via Molecular Design for Adhesion Promotion

Surface Modifications of Thermoplastic Styrene—Butadiene Rubber Treated with Sulfuric Acid

Surface Modification of Polyimide with Dielectric Barrier Discharges and with Dielectric Barrier Discharge Drive Excimer UV Lamps

Excimer Laser and High Power Ion Beam Surface Modification of Ultra-High Strength Polyethylene Fibers for Improved Adhesion to Epoxy Resins

Atomic Force Microscopy Study of UV/Ozone Treated Polypropylene Films

High Surface Energy Polymers Obtained by Bombardment with a keV Ion Beam in a Reactive Gas Environment

Electron Beam Modification of EPDM Rubber and Its Adhesion

General Papers:

Study on Bioadhesion of Polymeric Biomaterials to Tissues

"Fundamental" and "Practical" Adhesion in Polymer—Fiber Systems

Stearate-Modified Calcium Carbonate Fillers and Their Effect on the Properties of Poly(vinyl acetate) Composites

Plasma Copolymerized Surfaces to Enhance Cell Culture

Vacuum Arc Plasma Deposition of Wear Resistant Coatings on Polymer Substrates

Gas Barrier Properties of Plasma-Deposited Coatings — Substrate Effects

Radiofrequency Plasma Deposition of GE/C Films from Tetraalkylgermanium Derivatives