Influence of thermal treatment on the morphology and adhesion of gold films on trimethylcyclohexane-polycarbonate

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.