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Surface properties of polypropylene following a novel industrial surface-treatment process

Awaja, Firas, Gilbert, M., Kelly, Georgina, Fox, Bronwyn, Brynolf, Russell and Pigram, Paul J. 2008, Surface properties of polypropylene following a novel industrial surface-treatment process, Surface and interface analysis, vol. 40, no. 11, pp. 1454-1462.


Title Surface properties of polypropylene following a novel industrial surface-treatment process
Author(s) Awaja, Firas
Gilbert, M.
Kelly, Georgina
Fox, Bronwyn
Brynolf, Russell
Pigram, Paul J.
Journal name Surface and interface analysis
Volume number 40
Issue number 11
Start page 1454
End page 1462
Publisher John Wiley & Sons
Place of publication Oxford, England
Publication date 2008-11
ISSN 0142-2421
1096-9918
Keyword(s) polypropylene
surface modification
adhesion strength
ToF-SIMS
XPS
pull-up testing
ATmaP
Summary Polypropylene (PP) is used in many automotive applications where good paint adhesion is of primary importance. PP is widely known for its low surface energy which impacts negatively on its adhesion strength. PP surfaces were modified using a new industrial surface-treatment process known as the Accelerated Thermo-molecular adhesion Process (ATmaP). ATmaP grafts functional groups to the polymer surface derived from an atomised and vapourised nitrogen-containing coupling agent. The surface properties and adhesion performance of PP samples treated using the ATmaP process and two different flame processes were compared using XPS, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and mechanical testing (pull-up tests). The latter showed that ATmaP improved adhesion strength significantly in comparison with conventional flame treatments. XPS showed an increase in oxygen and nitrogen concentration on the surface of ATmaP-treated samples compared with untreated and flame-treated samples. Principal components analysis (PCA) of the ToF-SIMS data revealed the major phenomena occurring during the surface treatment of PP samples. Early stage events, including the chain scission of the PP backbone chain and the subsequent reaction of these chains with the surrounding air, are captured by the first principal component (PC1). The increase in the concentration of NO surface functional groups resulting from ATmaP treatment is captured by the second principal component (PC2).
Language eng
Field of Research 091209 Polymers and Plastics
Socio Economic Objective 860607 Plastic Products (incl. Construction Materials)
HERDC Research category C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal
HERDC collection year 2008
Copyright notice ©2008, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Persistent URL http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30017702

Document type: Journal Article
Collection: Centre for Material and Fibre Innovation
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Created: Fri, 14 Aug 2009, 13:56:14 EST