C. Von Bechtolsheim et al., Influence of thermal treatment on the morphology and adhesion of gold films on trimethylcyclohexane-polycarbonate, APPL SURF S, 151(1-2), 1999, pp. 119-128
We report on the influence of thermal treatment on the morphology and adhes
ion of the interface between gold and the polymer trimethylcyclohexane-poly
carbonate (TMC-PC). The investigations were carried out by means of cross-s
ectional transmission electron microscopy (XTEM), atomic force microscopy,
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and peel tests. It is shown that signific
ant changes in the morphology can be obtained by annealing above the glass
transition temperature (T-g) of the polymer. Peel tests revealed an extreme
enhancement of the initially very poor adhesion of gold on TMC-PC after th
ermal treatment above T-g. Evaluation of the XTEM results yields a diffusio
n coefficient for gold in TMC-PC of D = 3.8 x 10(-15) cm(2)/s at 235 degree
s C in excellent agreement with the atomic tracer diffusivity. (C) 1999 Els
evier Science B.V. All rights reserved.