Smart adhesion by surface treatment experimental and theoretical insights

Abstract

To investigate how plasma treatment affected the surface structure and adhesion to polypropylene matrix and unsaturated polyester matrix, green abaca fibers were treated by low temperature plasma under different plasma processing parameters including treatment time, output power, and working gas. Abaca fibers were characterized by atomic force microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, contact angle and interfacial shear strength. The results of contact angle and interfacial shear strength were consistent with the changes in surface roughness and the atomic ratio of the plasma treated abaca fibers with treatment time, output power, and working gas. It was concluded that the surface roughness and atomic ratio played a major role in the adhesion improvement of the plasma treated abaca fibers to polypropylene matrix and unsaturated polyester matrix due to the mechanical interlocking and chemical bonding, respectively. The geometrical potential theory was adopted to elucidate the mechanism of the adhesion property.