Surface Morphology of Polymer Films Imaged by Atomic Force Microscopy

Vancso, Gyula J.; Allston, Thomas D; Chun, I.; Johansson, Leena‐Sisko; Liu, Guobin; Smith, Paul F.

doi:10.1080/10236669608032756

Cited by 33 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…The surface morphology of polypropylene film is well documented 20 and Fig. 6 clearly shows the defined fibrillar structure often commented upon.…”

Section: Atomic Force Microscopymentioning

confidence: 96%

“…the soft overlayer has been ablated or volatilized during the high-energy treatment. This also may be an indication of ablation of the amorphous regions of the structure, 20 because amorphous regions are more easily ablated than crystalline areas. The globular features may not be observed uniformly because the surface energy of the BOPP film may have reached a value where it is possible for LMWOM to wet out on the surface.…”

Section: Atomic Force Microscopymentioning

confidence: 98%

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Surface physicochemistry of corona‐discharge‐treated polypropylene film

O'Hare

Leadley

Parbhoo

2002

Surface & Interface Analysis

104

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Corona discharge treatment (CDT) is a surface modification technique commonly used to treat plastic films prior to adhesive bonding, printing with inks, lamination to other films and other coating applications. In this study, the treatment conditions are, in energy terms, representative of those used in industrial and laboratory coating applications.The physicochemistry of the surface of untreated and corona-discharge-treated biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film was investigated using a number of complementary surface analytical techniques: contact angle analysis; x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS); atomic force microscopy (AFM). This report describes the surface energetics, chemical functionality and morphology of polypropylene film before and after CDT. Both AFM and XPS were utilized, along with washing experiments, to investigate the presence of a weak boundary layer. The morphology of the film changed after CDT. Initially, a fibrillar crystalline structure was observed, whereas after CDT a globular morphology became apparent. These globular features were attributed to low-molecular-weight oxidized material (LMWOM) created by CDT. The roughness of the film was not found to increase under the corona conditions employed.Formation of LMWOM was found to be independent of treatment energy. However, two mechanisms have been suggested for its formation, dependent on the energy of treatment: below a threshold energy of ∼4 kJ m −2 , oxidation and scission of the inherent low-molecular-weight boundary layer present on polyolefin films is the dominant means for the formation of LMWOM; above 4 kJ m −2 , oxidation and scission of the polymer backbone is the main process.This work provides a comprehensive reference around CDT of polypropylene film for industrial applications, while also informing how the optimal level of treatment can be determined. In the case of adhesion of silicones, it would be expected that optimal adhesion would be obtained where the maximum amount of oxygen incorporated was in a water-insoluble form.

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“…The surface morphology of polypropylene film is well documented 20 and Fig. 6 clearly shows the defined fibrillar structure often commented upon.…”

Section: Atomic Force Microscopymentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Atomic Force Microscopymentioning

confidence: 98%

Surface physicochemistry of corona‐discharge‐treated polypropylene film

O'Hare

Leadley

Parbhoo

2002

Surface & Interface Analysis

104

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“…(Digital Instruments Application Note -AFM Part 8; Vansco et al, 1996) The ability to image the lamellar structure was of crucial importance as crack propagation during electrical stressing of polyethylene has been found, using transmission electron microscopy, to follow the larnella structure. It should be noted that all three images were obtained simultaneously by the Microscope, they are therefore all of exactly the same area of the sample.…”

Section: Scanning Probe Microscopy Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of the structural changes in LDPE and XLPE induced by high electrical stress

Sayers¹

2000

Eighth International Conference on Dielectric Materials, Measurements and Applications

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SummaryHigh voltage electrical cables play an immensely important, although largely unseen, part in the lives of everybody in the world today. They are mostly buried underground and provide trouble free operation for the majority of their operational lives. However, the polymer based insulation that is used for a large number of high voltage cables is subject to long term ageing which can eventually lead to electrical breakdown. This ageing manifests itself as the appearance of tree like structures in the bulk polymer insulator. The growth of a tree frequently starts on the boundary of the polymer at the so-called "polymer-semicon" interface.This thesis is concerned, however, with the changes that must take place in the polymer before the tree is formed.Previous investigations of field induced changes occurring within polymer insulation have involved cutting the polymer to expose the region of interest: this is not a satisfactory as the cutting process can produce changes in the polymer. To avoid this a novel technique was developed whereby the polymer-semicon interface can be exposed without cutting the polymer.The interface region of the polymer in contact with the plane electrode was examined and even though the field in this region is less than at the point, it can be sufficiently large to induce structural change in the polymer, readily detectable by Raman spectroscopy.In studies of both LDPE and XLPE, we find evidence of structural change within the polymer and most significantly of considerable Raman fluorescence which is indicative of defect states in the polymer. The latter becomes modified as the polymer structure approaches electrical failure.The observations reported are set in context by the examination of the work of relevant authors and some conclusions deduced. The evidence supports a model in which the forces induced by the electrical field lead to failure by the mechanisms of local yield, microvoid craze and crack formation commonly invoked for the mechanical fracture of polymeric solids. Acknowledgments I would like to thank the School of Informatics, University of Wales, Bangor for all the help and assistance provided not only through the period of this PhD but also during my degree course. I would like to thank the people who worked at BICC Cables Limited before it became BICC General and then was sold to Pirelli Cables who closed BICC down. I would also like to thank the EPSRC for funding this work through a Co-operative Award in Science and Engineering (CASE) studentship.As a result of these connections I have had the pleasure and honour of working with Professor T. J. Lewis and Doctor J. P. Llewellyn both of whom continue to astound me with their ability to absorb new ideas, generate original ideas and furthermore to critically review those ideas and theories. Doctor Carl. Griffiths, previously of BICCGeneral provided invaluable critical appraisal of the work, results and interpretations presented here. I would also like to thank Dr Steven Befteridge, also previously of BICCGeneral, for h...

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“…Formation of ripples perpendicular to the scan direction has been reported as a typical wear mode for polymer surfaces such as polystyrene (PS) [5][6][7][8][9], polyesters [10], polycarbonate (PC) [11][12][13], poly(vinylchloride) [14], poly(tert-butyl acrylate) [15], and polyacetylene [16]. Langmuir-Blodgett bilayers of a polyglutamate (PG) statistical copolymer have also shown formation of ripples during the wear process [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%