ADHESION MEASUREMENT OF AMORPHOUS C-H FILMS DEPOSITED ONTO STAINLESS-STEEL - SPECTROSCOPIC INVESTIGATION OF INTERFACES

Amorphous hydrogenated carbon films obtained by the Plasma Assisted Ch emical Vapor Deposition (PACVD) process, have been extensively studied by many authors1,2,3 because of their interesting properties (hardnes s, optical transparency, chemical inertness, high electrical resistivi ty). In the present work, carbon films were deposited on stainless ste el from glow-discharge polymerization of methane at reduced pressure, using an RF generator operating at 13.56 MHz. These thin protective fi lms are able to play the role of a primer to which another polymer (ad hesive, paint, lacquer...) can subsequently be adhered. Surface treatm ents of the substrate and of the polymeric film were developed in orde r to obtain suitable adhesion properties, firstly of the film on the m etal substrate, secondly of an adhesive on the hydrogenated carbon fil m. These treatments were monitored by two spectroscopic methods, viz. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and (Low Energy Electron Induce d X-ray Spectrometry) (LEEIXS). Mechanical measurements were made usin g a three-point flexure test4 (Norm AFNOR T 30 010).