ADSORPTION OF MONOETHANOLAMINE ON CLEAN, OXIDIZED AND HYDROXYLATED ALUMINUM SURFACES - A MODEL FOR AMINE-CURED EPOXY ALUMINUM INTERFACES

The interaction of 1-amino-2-hydroxyethane (monoethanolamine) with cle an Al(100), in-situ oxidized Al(100) and in-situ hydroxylated Al(100) has been investigated using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and high -resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy (HREELS). It has been sh own that, on all these surfaces, adsorption of monoethanolamine can be interpreted in the framework of the Hard and Soft Acid Base (HSAB) pr inciple. However, the detailed mechanism differs for each surface: (i) monoethanolamine interacts with clean Al(100) through its amine termi nation via a Lewis-like acid-base reaction; (ii) monoethanolamine inte racts with oxidized Al(100) through its alcohol termination via a Lewi s-like acid-base reaction; (iii) monoethanolamine interacts with hydro xylated Al(100) through its alcohol termination via a Bronsted-like ac id-base reaction.