The 18 peer-reviewed papers in this volume are drawn from the Fifth International Symposium on Polymer Surface Modification: Relevance to Adhesion, held in Toronto, Canada, in June 2005. The papers present a myriad of techniques for modifying polymer surfaces for various technological end-uses. Topics include surface treatment methods, analysis and characterization of modified surfaces, effective life and durability of treatment methods, and relevance of surface treatment to adhesion of polymers.

From the Preface: “...By suitably modifying polymer surfaces one can obtain the desired surface characteristics without tempering with the bulk properties. Comcomitantly, there is much current interest in devising new ways or ameliorating the existing techniques. The techniques for polymer surface modification range from dry to wet, vacuum to non-vacuum, sumptuous to inexpensive, and sophisticated to simple. Apropos, recently much interest has been evinced in the atmospheric pressure plasma treatment as it offers certain advantages vis-a-vis the conventional low-pressure plasmas...”

Target Audience: Researchers, technologists, and upper-level students interested in adhesion to — and modification of — polymer surfaces.

Table of Contents:

Surface Modification Techniques:

Importance of Process Conditions in Polymer Surface Modification: A Critical Assessment

Pretreatment and Surface Modification of Polymers via Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma Jet Treatment

The Effects of Excimer Laser Irradiation on Surface Morphology Development in Stretched Poly(ethylene terephthalate), Poly(butylene terephthalate), and Polystyrene Films

XeCl Excimer Laser Treatment of Vectran Fibers in Diethylenetriamine (DETA) Environment

Surface Modification of Polymers by Ozone: Composition of Polyethylene and Polystyrene Treated at Different Temperatures

Atomic Force Microscopy Based Studies of Photochemically-Modified Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Surfaces

Wool Surface Modification and Its Influence on Related Functional Properties

Surface Modification of Polyethylene by Photosulfonation

Covalent Coupling of Fluorophores to Polymer Surface-Bonded Functional Groups

Functionalization of Fiber Surfaces by Thin Layers of Chitosan and Related Carbohydrate Biopolymers and Their Antimicrobial Activity

Dendrons for Surface Modification of Polymeric Materials

Surface Modification of Textile Materials by Dip-Coating with Magnetic Nanoparticles

Adhesion Improvement to Polymer Surfaces:

Adhesion Improvement of Epoxy Resist to a Benzocyclobutane Layer: Application to Nanoimprint Lithography

Improvement of Adhesion Between Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) and Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Films

Novel Approaches to Enhance Adhesion of Cellulose

An In-Mold Application of Adhesion Promoters to Polyolefin Substrates

Design and Control of Surface Properties of UV-Curable Acrylic Systems

Detection of Contaminants on Polymer Surfaces Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)