1996 Volume 47 Issue 11 Pages 927-933
The adhesion strength of fluorine-containing rubber (a copolymer of CF2=CH2 and CF2=CF-CF3) to plasma treated aluminum was studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data and the water contact angle. Plasma treatments were as follows. (a) argon plasma treatment of aluminum at elevated temperatures in the presence of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), sputtering PTFE onto the metal surface and (b) argon plasma treatments in the absence or in the presence of PTFE of plasma polymerized film (PPF) of cyclohexane previously formed on the aluminum surface. Adhesion was conducted by inserting rubber between two treated aluminum samples and adding compressive stress at high temperature. Adhesive strength was measured using Instron test equipment. Adhesive strength using treatment (a) was much greater than without treatment and slowly increased with increasing temperature, being due to the removal of carbon contaminants and the introduction of CF2 groups on the surface. Adhesive strength using treatment (b) increased several times compared to that without plasma treatments. The PPF surface after treatment (b) exhibited a hydrophihc nature, thought to play a significant role in adhesion.
