Surface modification of a liquid‐crystalline polymer for copper metallization

The effects of different surface modifications on the adhesion of copper to a liquid‐crystalline polymer (LCP) were investigated with X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, contact‐angle measurements, and pull tests. High pull‐strength values were achieved when copper was sputter‐deposited onto plasma and reactive‐ion‐etching (RIE)‐pretreated LCP surfaces. The values were comparable to the reference pull strengths obtained with laminated copper on the LCP. The adhesion was relatively insensitive to the employed feed gas in the pretreatments. The surface characterizations revealed that for RIE and plasma treatments, the enhanced adhesion was attributable to the synergistic effects of the increased surface roughness and polar component of the surface free energy of the polymer. However, if the electroless copper deposition was performed on RIE‐ or plasma‐treated surfaces, very poor adhesion was measured. Good adhesion between the LCP substrate and electrolessly deposited copper was achieved only in the case of wet‐chemical surface roughening as a result of the creation of a sufficient number of mechanical interlocking sites, together with a significant loss of oxygen functionalities, on the surface. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 623–636, 2003     

Adhesion Aspects of Plasma Polymerized Acetonitrile and Acrylonitrile on Polypropylene Surface

Acetonitrile and acrylonitrile were plasma polymerized on Polypropylene (PP) surface. Surface modifications were characterized by surface energy measurements and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Surface energy measurement showed incorporation of hydrophilic groups along with deposition of cross-linked network of plasma-polymerized product. ATR-FTIR analysis of modified films showed incorporation of conjugated imine and amine groups. Using change in the relative intensities of C—H stretch bands of polypropylene surface, site of attachment of hydrophilic group and most predominant surface chemical reaction could be inferred. Chemical nature of plasma polymerized product was studied using FTIR by KBr disc method. Adhesion test was performed on modified surface by peel test method. Surface energy and peel strength measurements were performed for the samples aged for 2 months in order to check the durability of surface modification.     

Effect of nonlinear viscoelastic properties on tack

The influence of rheological and surface properties on adhesive tackiness are studied. In particular, the importance of the elongational properties is emphasized in a model, which considers only the adhesive contribution while neglecting the importance of cavitation and surface roughness. This simple analysis allows us to recover the different types of curves (i.e., different adhesive materials) obtained in the literature on tack. Elastic, strain‐hardening, and viscous adhesive materials are considered. The question of the importance of surface properties is raised and discussed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 3139–3149, 2003     

熔渣颗粒碰壁的相变沉积热过程模拟

离心粒化方法在高温熔渣余热回收方面具有结构紧凑、能耗低、得到的渣粒粒径小等优势。但受到粒化仓空间限制,会出现高温熔融渣粒碰撞、黏附在壁面的现象,影响装置运行的稳定性。本文针对该问题建立了熔融渣粒碰撞壁面的三维对称模型,结合VOF(流体体积)方法和凝固/融化模型来模拟熔渣动态形变和凝固换热过程。模拟得到,两个同粒径熔融渣粒在壁面上相继沉积会出现碰撞、铺展、回缩、飞溅、稳定的动态行为。进一步,讨论了熔渣初始温度和冷却风速对其形变和凝固换热的影响。结果表明,熔渣初始温度越小,铺展因数越小,凝固所需时间延长。而冷却风速(1~3 m/s)对熔渣碰壁过程中的铺展形变和换热的影响都很微小。     

Mechanics of contact and adhesion between viscoelastic spheres: An analysis of hysteresis during loading and unloading

Detailed finite element simulations are carried out to study the adhesive contact of viscoelastic spheres. The spheres are brought into contact by a compressive force that increases at a constant rate. Upon reaching a maximum load, the spheres are unloaded until they separate. We studied in detail the effect of loading and unloading rates on hysteresis and on the pull‐off force for a standard viscoelastic solid. The surface interaction is modeled by the Dugdale–Barenblatt model. Numerical results are compared with analytical models for bonding and debonding, including a recent theory proposed by Johnson. There is excellent agreement between analytical and finite element results for the bonding phase. However, for the debonding phase, current analytical models break down unless the loading and unloading rates are slow in comparison with the material relaxation time. Based on the finite element results, a simple approximate analytical model is proposed to quantify adhesive contact in the debonding phase. We also examine the dependence of hysteresis on interfacial parameters such as the cohesive strength and the intrinsic work of adhesion. Our results show that viscoelastic adhesive contact depends on the details of the surface interaction and cannot be determined solely by the work of adhesion. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 772–793, 2002     

Encapsulation and backsheet adhesion metrology for photovoltaic modules

Photovoltaic modules are designed to operate for decades in terrestrial environments. However, mechanical stress, moisture, and ultraviolet radiation eventually degrade protective materials in modules, particularly their adhesion properties, eventually leading to reduced solar cell performance. Despite the significance of interfacial adhesion to module durability, currently there is no reliable technique for characterizing module adhesion properties. We present a simple and reproducible metrology for characterizing adhesion in photovoltaic modules that is grounded in fundamental concepts of beam and fracture mechanics. Using width‐tapered cantilever beam fracture specimens, interfacial adhesion was evaluated on relevant interfaces of encapsulation and backsheet structures of new and 27‐year‐old historic modules. The adhesion energy, G_c [J/m²], was calculated from the critical value of the strain energy release rate, G, using G = βP ², where β (a mechanical and geometric parameter of the fracture specimen) and P (the experimentally measured critical load) are constants. Under some circumstances where testing may result in cracking of brittle layers in the test specimen, measurement of the delamination length in addition to the critical load was necessary to determine G . Relative to new module materials, backsheet adhesion was 95% and 98% lower for historic modules that were exposed (operated in the field) and unexposed (stored on‐site, but out of direct sunlight), respectively. Encapsulation adhesion was 87–94% lower in the exposed modules and 31% lower in the unexposed module. The metrology presented here can be used to improve module materials and assess long‐term reliability. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Polymers from a levopimaric acid–acrylic acid Diels–Alder adduct: Synthesis and characterization

The Diels–Alder adduct of levopimaric acid with acrylic acid was efficiently prepared from resin acids. When the adduct was subjected to a dehydrodecarboxylation reaction, a ketone diacid derivative was obtained. New ketone type linear polymers were synthesized by the advanced dehyrodecarboxylation, a nonconventional polycondensation reaction, of both the above in presence of sulfonic catalysts. The polyketones turned out to be excellent tackifiers in adhesive formulae. The ketone polymers were condensed with diamines to give crosslinked polyazomethines. The structures of the monomers and polymers were established by means of elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopy, and molecular weight determinations. Both the polyketones and polyazomethines were low‐molecular‐weight polymers, soluble in some polar and nonpolar solvents. The thermal behavior of the monomers and polymers was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis. The thermal studies showed that the polymers were substances with good thermal stability, except the polyazomethine synthesized by the condensation of polyketone with an aromatic diamine, which appeared to be a substance with high thermal stability. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5979–5990, 2007     

An efficient process for synthesizing and hydrolyzing a phosphonated methacrylate: Investigation of the adhesive and anticorrosive properties

A new phosphonated methacrylate, namely dimethyl(methacryloyloxy)methyl phosphonate (MAPC₁), has been synthesized using paraformaldehyde and potassium carbonate according to the Pudovik reaction. The quantitative synthesis of MAPC₁ was followed by selective hydrolysis of the ester group with sodium bromide to replace NaI (imparting non‐negligible ecological impact). Pure MAPC₁(OH) was obtained in high yield and efficiently copolymerized with MMA. The r₁ for MAPC₁(OH)) and r₂ (for MMA) values are 0.99 and 1.02, respectively, which indicates that the monophosphonic groups are statistically linked to the methacrylate backbone. When blended with PVDF, MMA/MAPC₁(OH) copolymers show very good adhesion promoters in both dry and wet conditions and subsequently provide good anticorrosive properties. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4794–4803, 2008