Studies on adhesive properties of polypropylene (PP) and polycarbonate (PC) film surfaces using DC glow discharge plasma

Direct current (DC) glow discharge plasma has been used to increase the adhesive properties of polypropylene (PP) and polycarbonate (PC) film surfaces and make them suitable for technical applications. The modified surfaces were characterized by contact angle, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. Also, improved adhesion properties were analyzed using T-Peel strength test. The results show that the surface wettability has been increased due to decrease in contact angle and increase in surface energy. After plasma treatment the root mean square (RMS), roughness of PP and PC films were gradually increased with different exposure time. XPS results detected polar functional groups on plasma treated PP and PC film surfaces. T-Peel strength test for adhesion strength measurement showed that the surface modified PP and PC films were increased with adhesive properties.   Key words: Glow discharge, polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), contact angle, surface energy.