The effect of methods of surface treatment of metal elements on their surface free energy, with a view to the formation of polymer-metal hybrid elements

An analysis was made of methods of chemical surface treatment of metal elements made of DC04 steel and Al6061 alloy, for the formation of polymer–metal joints in injection molding technology. The surface characterization included determination of surface free energy (SFE) by the OWRK (Owens–Wendt–Rabel–Kaelble) method, and determination of its polar and dispersive components. Depending on the chemical treatment applied, the highest values of the polar constant for DC04 and Al6061 sheets were 26.4 and 39.2 mJ/m2, respectively, the highest values of the dispersion constant were 55.6 and 53.5 mJ/m2, respectively, for DC04 and Al6061 sheets. In the case of the surfaces of sheets made of the Al6061 alloy, the increase in the polar component value was most favorably influenced by the etching with 15% NaOH solution for 5 minutes, and the increase in the dispersive component – by the etching with 15% NaOH solution with the addition of thiourea for 2 minutes. In the case of the surface of DC04 sheets, the increase of the polar component was most favorably influenced by chemical cleaning for 10 minutes (in a solution with the composition: Na2CO3 50 g/mol, Na3PO4 × 12 H2O 50 g/mol, NaOH 50 g/mol). The highest value of the dispersive component of the surface DC04 sheets was obtained after etching with 15% HCl solution with the addition of thiourea for 5 minutes.