Studies on polymer-metal interfaces Part 1. Comparison of adsorption behavior between oxygen and nitrogen functionality in model copolymers onto metal surfaces

The effect of oxygen or nitrogen containing functionality in model copolyme rs on the interfacial characteristics between the copolymers and metals was examined by adhesion strength and infrared spectroscopy. The adhesion stre ngth with both copper and aluminum increased with increasing the vinyl pyri dine (VP) content in poly (styrene-co-vinyl pyridine) copolymers (SVP). The adhesion strength between poly (styrene-co-acrylic acid) copolymers (SAA) and both metals increased at lower acrylic acid (AA) contents in the copoly mers, but the adhesion strength remained almost unchanged at higher AA cont ents due to competition between interaction of free carboxylic acid with me tal and self-association of acrylic acid units in the copolymer through dim erization of carboxylic acids. From the reflection-absorption infrared (RAI R) spectroscopy, it is concluded that the enhancement of adhesion strength by the incorporation of comonomers is caused by specific interaction betwee n the copolymers and metals and orientation behavior of carbonyl groups in AA units and pyridine rings in VP units to the metal surfaces. (C) 1999 Els evier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.