CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF POLYMER SURFACES

The analysis of polymer surfaces in terms of functional groups can be undertaken by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Correlations between c hemical composition and water contact angle indicate the dependence of polymer wettability on the surface concentration of oxygen carrying a high electron density, whatever the specific functional groups presen t. Electrokinetic methods, which can be applied to plates or films, pr ovide tools for examining the surface electric properties and for dete cting ionizable groups at polymer surfaces. Surface characterization p rovides basic information for understanding the adhesion process throu gh molecular interactions. However the study of polypropylene has show n that adhesiveness is not only influenced by surface properties but a lso by the deformability of the polymer and, consequently, by its crys tallinity and its thermal history.