Influence of artificially accelerated ageing on the adhesive joint of plasma treated polymer materials

Abstract

An influence of simulated ageing on the adhesive joint of plasma treated polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) was tested. Plasma surface treatment was performed in the rf-plasma reactor operating at 13,56 MHz. The simulated ageing of prepared specimens for following tensile testing was carried out under conditions given by Volkswagen standard P-VW 1200. Temperature of ageing was regularly oscillating between -40degreesC and 80degreesC (relative humidity 80 %) for required time. The mechanical tensile properties of adhesive joint were measured according to the standard ISO 527. Surface analysis of treated polymer substrates was characterized by XPS measurement. The observation of surface structure and morphology was obtained using SEM. We used convenient cyanoacrylate adhesive Loctite E 406 for PE and PP joints. Tested adhesive joints were prepared in compliance with the standard ISO 4587.