Photochemical surface modification of polypropylene for adhesion enhancement by using an excimer laser

Abstract

Polypropylene (PP) surface in water was photochemically modified to render it hydrophilic using ArF excimer laser radiation. The chemical stability of PP is attributed to the C-H and C-H₃ bonds present. Thus, it is considered that H atoms are selectively pulled out from the area irradiated with ArF excimer laser light and are replaced with OH functional groups in the presence of water. In this treatment, the irradiated sample becomes hydrophilic with enhanced adhesion properties. The experimental conditions for this surface treatment were ArF laser fluence of 12.5 mJ/cm² and a shot number of 10000. The treated PP and stainless steel were bonded with epoxy adhesive and the tensile shear strength was 46 kg/cm².

Keywords:

• Polypropylene
• excimer laser
• photochemical modification
• dehydrogenation
• epoxy adhesive