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 thinne r films is characteristic for the preparation technique. XPS and IR re flection spectroscopy provide insight into peculiar features of the en ergy state. and the orientation of the oligomer molecules as a functio n of film thickness. On Si, the bulk situation is more or less conserv ed. On Al, the triazine rings are involved in some long range effects that cause a preferential orientation and change the characteristic vi bration energy of many triazine rings.