Tech Talk Blog

Which surface treatment technique is best for you?

Mechanical – involves blasting with abrasive particles to develop a surface roughness to the polymer. This technique may be wet or dry.

Heat and Flame – the polymer surface is quickly exposed to a high temperature flame. This operation anneals and oxidizes the polymer surface

Radiation – this treatment involves exposing the polymer to UV or gamma radiation. The resulting surface typically is oxidized and crosslinked.

Plasma – Truly this is the most elegant and broad reaching method for polymer activation. This technique treats the surface of polymer with activated gaseous compounds. The activated gases are usually produced with RF discharge and can oxidize, crosslink, and clean the polymer surface.

Electrical – Electrical arc blow or corona discharge are used in this method. This treatment usually oxidizes and crosslinks polymer surfaces.

Chemical – Chemical agents that oxidize, dissolve, hydrolyze, or swell polymer surfaces. This process can add surface topography and/or chemistry.

Still not sure? You might consider to Ask The Experts!

UV exposure increases the bondability of plastics by irradiating them with high intensity UV light. However, the effectiveness of UV exposure is very dependent on the wavelength of light being used. For example, light with a wavelength of 184 nm will crosslink the surface of polyethylene, while light at >250 nm will not. UV irradiation causes chain scissions, crosslinking, and oxidation of the polymers surface, even in inert gases. Many different mechanisms describing why UV exposure increases the bondability of plastics have been proposed, including: increasing the wettability; strengthening the plastic’s boundary layer through crosslinking; and inducing hydrogen bonding. The predominant view is that the bondability is improved by the formation of polymeric scission products, which promote interfacial flow and polar interactions.

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