The present study is entirely devoted to an XPS analysis of (i) the surface
of as received and plasma (argon, CO,) treated poly(methyl-methacrylate) (
PMMA) and (ii) the interface between PMMA and alumina thin films, deposited
by r.f. magnetron sputtering respectively on untreated and CO2 plasma-trea
ted polymer films. As expected, important chemical modifications of PMMA su
rface are observed when this polymer is plasma-treated. Such modifications
increase the level of interactions between alumina and the substrate. Howev
er, if the formation of aluminium carboxylate is observed at the interface,
no covalent bonds between the alumina film and the polymer are evidenced.
(C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.