Mechanisms of Adhesion in Surface Chlorinated Thermoplastic Rubber/Thermoplastic Polyurethane Adhesive Joints

Abstract

Abstract Chlorination of a thermoplastic styrene-butadiene-styrene rubber (S0) with a solution of 2 wt% trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCI) in ethyl acetate improved its adhesion to polyurethane adhesives. The analysis of the failed surfaces (obtained after T-peel test of S0/PU joints) showed that the locus of failure in the rubber/polyurethane joints progresses from adhesion (in non chlorinated-S0/PU joint) to cohesion in the chlorinated layer (for chlorinated-S0/PU joint). The composition of this chlorinated layer differed from the composition of the non bonded-chlorinated rubber, i.e. the failure of the joint was located in a chlorinated layer with a distinctive chemistry. On the other hand, the analysis of the chlorinated rubber/PU adhesive interface showed that chlorination with TCI produces a crosslinking of the rubber surface as well as strong interactions between the uppermost-chlorinated layer and the PU adhesive.