Polymeric materials are used for a legion of applications in a host of technological fields. However, polymers are innately hydrophobic, low surface energy materials and thus do not adhere well to other materials. This necessitates surface modification to render them adhesionable. This volume contains papers originally presented at the International Symposium on Polymer Surface Modification: Relevance to Adhesion, held in Las Vegas in November 1993. They were previously published in two special volumes of the Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology.

From the Preface: “...[I]n this symposium, the emphasis was on surface modification of polymers with relevance to adhesion. In light of the tempo of R&D activity in the surface modification of polymers coupled with the tremendous technological interest in this topic, we decided that it was very opportune to hold this symposium [which] was organized with the following objectives in mind: (i) to bring together the scientists and technologists with active interest 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 the unsolved problems as well as the surface modification techniques which offered good promise and vindicated vigorous pursuit...”

Target Audience: Academic and industrial scientists and technologists concerned with polymer surfaces and adhesion.

Table of Contents:

Plasma Surface Modification Techniques:

Plasma Treatment of Polydimethylsiloxane

Atmospheric Silent Discharge vs. Low-Pressure Plasma Treatment of Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyisobutylene, and Polystyrene

Hydrophobic Recovery of Repeatedly Plasma-Treated Silicone Rubber: Storage in Air

The Improvement in Adhesion of Polyurethane—Polypropylene Composites by Short-Time Exposure of Polypropylene to Low and Atmospheric Pressure Plasmas

Fluoropolymer Surface Modification for Enhanced Evaporated Metal Adhesion

Plasma Treatment of Polymers: The Effect of the Plasma Parameters on the Chemical, Physical, and Morphological States of the Polymer Surface and on the Metal—Polymer Interface

Interfacial Chemistry in Al and Cu Metallization of Untreated and Plasma Treated Polyethylene and Polyethyleneterephthalate

Barrier Properties of Plasma-Modified Polypropylene and Polyethyleneterephthalate

Surface Biomedical Effects of Plasma on Polyetherurethane

Laser Surface Modification Techniques:

Modification of Polymers with UV Excimer Radiation from Lasers and Lamps

Photolytic Surface Modification of Polymers with UV-Laser Radiation

Laser-Induced Adhesion Enhancement of Polymer Composites and Metal Alloys

Excimer Laser-Induced Photochemical Modification and Adhesion Improvement of a Fluororesin Surface

Photochemical Surface Modification of Polypropylene for Adhesion Enhancement by Using an Excimer Laser

Other/Miscellaneous Surface Modification Techniques:

A Comparison of Gas-Phase Methods of Modifying Polymer Surfaces

UV and Ozone Treatment of Polypropylene and Poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Effects of Aging and Washing on UV and Ozone-Treated Poly(ethylene terephthalate) and Polypropylene

Surface Pretreatment of Plastics for Adhesive Bonding

`Surface Photografting' onto Polymers —A New Method for Adhesion Control

Photochemical Surface Modification of Polymers for Improved Adhesion

Surface Properties of Polyethylene Grafted with Triallyl Cyanurate in the Presence of an Electron Beam

Surface Modification of PVDF Membranes by Grafting of a Vinylphosphonium Compound

Surface Modification of Fluoropolymers

Modification of Polyimide Surface Morphology: Relationship Between Modification Depth and Adhesion Strength

Surface Modification of Synthetic Vulcanized Rubber

Surface Modification of Drawn Gel-Cast Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Films

Modification of Polyamide Fiber Surfaces by Micro-Organisms

General Papers:

Physico-Chemical Properties of Surface-Modified Polymers

Surface Characterizations of Modified Polyethylene Pulp and Wood Pulps Fibers Using XPS and Inverse Gas Chromatography

Enhancement of the Monovalent Cation Perm-Selectivity of Nafion by Plasma-Induced Surface Modification

A Surface Acoustic Wave Sensor Study of Polyimide Thin Film Surface Treatments — Effect on Water Uptake

A Reactive Acrylic Adhesive for Bonding Polyolefins

Laser Annealing and Surface Modification of Plasma Polymer—Metal Composite Films

Surface and Interface Charge Effects in Metal—Polymer Adhesion