Plasma polymer for enhancing adhesion bonds of a metal/elastomer assembly

Four model plasma coatings obtained with selected parameters and precursors (acetylene, acrylic acid, and maleic anhydride) were developed for the preparation of adhesive joints of a metal/elastomer assembly. One of these layers, pulsed wave (PW), is thin and highly functionalized, while another continuous wave (CW) coated with the same thickness is less functionalized but crosslinked. The other two layers (CW x 2, CW + PW), twice as thick compared with PW and CW, show the same chemical criteria. The adhesion strength of prepared assemblies is increasing, but mostly depends on the precursor type. Moreover, such model layers allow to study the adhesion mechanism between the metal and the elastomer. The thermodynamic adhesion, that is, surface energy closer to the elastomer one, appears to prevail.

Automated summary

Four model plasma coatings were developed for adhesive joints of a metal/elastomer assembly using selected parameters and precursors. The adhesion strength of prepared assemblies is increasing with different functionalized layers, but mostly depends on the precursor type. Thermodynamic adhesion mechanism may prevail with surface energy closer to the elastomer one.