On the importance of the chemical interface between organic coatings and metals

摘要

Polymer/(hydr)oxide/metal systems play an important role in engineering. In aerospace, microelectronics, automotive, packaging and even biomedical industry engineering metals are adhesively bonded by a polymer adhesive. Next to adhesive joints, organic coatings are used in these industries and in construction in order to protect the underlying substrate against atmospheric influences. The interface between the organic layer and the oxide of these hybrid systems is very important as it determines largely the performance of the entire system. However, in which sense this interface is of extreme importance is the topic of a large debate. Although mechanical interlocking has always been put forward as the main force holding hybrid structures, it becomes increasingly clear that interfacial chemical interactions are the key players in hybrid structure durability. The so-called buried interface can only be accessed by using monomeric model compounds or by removing (e.g. by argon sputtering or stripping) the polymeric layer partially. We will present an innovative approach to study interfacial interactions between metallic oxide layers and polymeric films in a non-destructive, in situ manner. This will be done using ultrathin polymeric films deposited on well-tuned oxides. The interactions will be probed using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, TOF-SIMS, Infrared Spectroscopy in a Kretchmann geometry and Near Ambient Pressure X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy.