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Abstract
This work demonstrates the usefulness of flow microcalorimetry for surface characterization of metal foils (aluminum) and polymer [poly (ethylene-co-acrylic acid)] fibers. It shows that the polymer to aluminum adhesion is dominated by Lewis acid/Lewis base type interactions. These interactions are predictable from the measured heats of surface adsorption and desorption of probe molecules from dilute solution. The heats of interaction are a measure of the strengths of these sites. Adhesion between basic aluminum foil and acidic polymer resin increases with increasing numbers of either acidic sites on the polymer or basic sites on the foil. The calorimetry and adhesion results are in good agreement. This study supports recent observations vide infra that wettability of the aluminum is much less important for polymer/aluminum adhesion than chemical bonding.