THIN POLYMER LAYERS ON SOLIDS - A MODEL SYSTEM FOR THE ADHESIVE INTERPHASE

Several experimental methods were combined for the characterisation of DCBA prepolymer layers between 5 nm and 100 nm on Al and Si. AFM reve aled big topographical differences between the two substrates and the organic layers on them. Si is flat in the 1 nm - range and the prepoly mer coatings are uniform and hole - free on it. On the quite rough Al it takes some 15 nm to get closed layers. The structure of the thinner films is characteristic for the preparation technique. XPS and IR ref lection spectroscopy provide insight into peculiar features of the ene rgy state and the orientation of the oligomer molecules as a function of thickness. On Si, the bulk situation is more or less conserved. On Al, the triazine rings are involved in some long range effects that ca use a preferential orientation and change the characteristic vibration energy of many triazine rings.