Polyamide 6 surface layer following ozone treatment

The following paper presents the results of tests examining the physical and chemical state of polyamide 6 surface layer following ozone treatment. A comparison of surface free energy values following selected operations of mechanical and ozone treatment is made, with particular attention dedicated to the correlation between ozone concentration and produced effect of energetic activation of the surface layer. The article analyses the dispersive and polar components of the surface free energy and presents the results of nano- and microstructural tests based on such methods as atomic force microscopy (AFM), optical profilometry and infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Polyamide 6 lap joint static shear strength test results were analysed. The results of the conducted research may find application in pro-ecological methods for polymer material preparation in technologies where the phenomenon of adhesion plays a dominant or significant role. The paper finishes with conclusions and directions for future research work. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.