The papers in this volume were originally presented at the 5th and 6th Symposia on Metallized Plastics: Fundamental and Applied Aspects, held in Los Angeles (May 1996) and Paris (September 1997), respectively. The book is organized in three parts: metallization techniques and metal deposit properties; spectroscopic investigation of interfacial interactions; and surface modification and adhesion aspects.

From the Preface: “...This volume contains a total of 29 papers (15 from the Los Angeles Symposium and 14 from the Paris Symposium) addressing many aspects and new developments in the field of metallized plastics....It should be recorded that all manuscripts were properly reviewed and suitably revised before inclusion in this volume. Also it should be underscored that the authors of the Los Angeles Symposium were asked to update the information. So the information presented in this book should be fresh and up-to-date...”

Target Audience: Researchers, technologists, and students interested in the fundamental or applied aspects of metallization of plastics.

Partial Table of Contents:

Metallization Techniques and Properties of Metal Deposits:

Electroless Metallization of Polymers: Simplification of the Process by Using Plasma or UV-Laser Pretreatment

Pulsed Laser Deposition of TiN on PMMA and Polyimide: A Novel Route for Polymer Metallization

Substrate Heating During Sputter Coating of Polymers

High Rate Coating of Plastic Films and Plastic Sheets with Clear Oxide Layers

New Generation Sputtering and Plasma Polymerization Plant for Metallization of Plastics

Electrodeposition of Copper on PVC Using Soluble Polyaniline

Plastics Metallization Using a Dynamic Chemical Plating Process

Spectroscopic Investigation of Interfacial Interactions:

The Application of Near-Edge X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure (NEXAFS) Spectroscopy and X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) in Surface Analysis of Chromium-Evaporated Polymers and Organic Films

Penetration of Deposited Au, Cu, and Ag Overlayers through Alkanethiol Self-Assembled Monolayers on Gold or Silver

Early Stages of Copper/Polyimide Interface Formation

The Deposition of Copper onto Teflon AF1600: An XPS Comparison of Vapor Deposition and Sputtering

Bulk and Interface Degradation Processes in Polymer Electroluminescence Devices

Surface Modification and Adhesion Aspects:

Plasma Pretreatment of Polymer Surfaces — Relevance to Adhesion of Metals

Study of the He-NH₃ Plasma Mixtures and their Role in the Stability of the Plasma Treated Polypropylene Surface

Surface Modification of Polymers Used in the Low Earth Orbit Space Environment

Ion Beam Induced Adhesion at Metal—Polymer Interfaces

Changes in the Adhesion Strength Between Copper Thin Films and Polyimide Substrates after Heat Treatment

A Quantitative Adhesion Test for Metal Coated Polymer Fibres

Non-Destructive Techniques for Monitoring Metallized Plastics Adhesion