IMPROVED ADHESION TO POLYMERS BY UV OZONE SURFACE OXIDATION/

An ultraviolet-ozone oxidation process is shown to be an effective adh esion pretreatment for polyethylene (PE) and polyetheretherketone (PEE K). The data obtained indicate that the treatment gives considerable o xidation and improved wettability for PE and PEEK surface types. Treat ed surfaces were analysed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and water contact angles. XPS was also used to follow the chemistry a nd mechanism of the oxidation. Adhesion with a two-part epoxy was meas ured for PE and PEEK and was observed to improve significantly after p retreatment.