LOW-TEMPERATURE GRAFT-COPOLYMERIZATION OF 1-VINYL IMIDAZOLE ON LOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE FILMS WITH SIMULTANEOUS LAMINATION OF COPPER FOILS

Surface modification of argon plasma-pretreated low-density polyethyle ne (LDPE) films by graft copolymerization with 1-vinyl imidazole (VIDz ) and with concurrent lamination of copper foils at room temperature a nd at an elevated temperature were carried out. The adhesion strengths were reported as lap shear adhesion strengths and T-peel strengths. T he surfaces of the graft copolymerized films and the mechanically dela minated LDPE and Cu surfaces were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was found that plasma pretreatment of LDPE alo ne, and in the absence of VIDz, could give rise to strong lap shear ad hesion between the polymer and copper. Significant T-peel strengths, h owever, were obtained only for LDPE/Cu laminates obtained from the sim ultaneous graft copolymerization and lamination technique. (C) 1998 Jo hn Wiley & Sons, Inc.