Study of the Effect of Ion Implantation on Polymer to Metal Adhesion

In an effort to improve adhesion of plasma-formed organotin coatings to aluminum and stainless-steel surfaces, ion implantation was effected in two ways. the metal substrates were placed in a radio-frequency inductively coupled reactor and a tetramethyltin monomer was polymerized in the glow discharge onto the metal surfaces. the coated surfaces were then bombarded with nitrogen ions (100 keV, 10**1**6 ions/cm**2) and then recoated in the plasma reactor. the second approach involved bombardment of the metal surfaces by Sn ions prior to plasma coating. the resulting films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and their adhesive strength was determined by boiling in saline solution and/or by mechanical testing. the results of this preliminary study indicate the first approach to be effective in improving adhesion.