Application of radio frequency glow discharge plasma for enhancing adhesion bonds in polymer/polymer joints

Abstract

It was found in this study, that air radio frequency glow discharge (rfGD) plasma is increasing surface roughness and is enhancing wettability of polypropylene) (PP), poly(ethylene) (PE), and poly(carbonate) (PC). As an addition, the increased surface microhardness of PP and PE was found. Results indicate that rfGD air plasma treatment is very effective tool for improvement of adhesive properties of studied polymers as tested on single lap and double lap joints. The value of maximum load rise from 107 to 1926 N (approximately 18-fold increase) for 20-mintreated PE and from 314 to 834 N (approximately three-fold increase) for PP. Artificial accelerated ageing rapidly decreased the quality of adhesive joint. The value of maximum load decreased from 1926 to 221 N (approximately nine-fold decrease) in the case of 20-min-treated PE. This result indicates that the ageing of the adhesive joint of plasma treated polymers can be a limitation factor in the possible application of the final component because of the extremely high loss of its initially-enhanced mechanical properties. However, the strength of the thus prepared joints was higher in comparison to the plasma nontreated virgin samples. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.