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Polymers/metal laminates are often used to improve physical and mechanical properties, especially those required in building applications. A flat aluminum composite panel (ACP) consisted mainly of two thin metal sheets usually made of aluminum (Al) and a non-metal core, such as polyethylene (PE). The lack of adhesion associated with the low wettability of PE is a serious problem. An eco-friendly, dry, non-destructive corona treatment technique can be applied to solve this problem. In this work, the use of a corona treatment to enhance the adhesion properties of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) was studied. The changes in surface and adhesion properties were thoroughly analyzed using various analytical techniques and methods to obtain the optimal parameters for corona discharge using contact angle measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM force adhesion measurements were used to analyze the effect of the corona treatment on the adhesion enhancement of LLDPE, and the peel tests confirmed a significant increase in peel resistance in the LLDPE/Al laminate. A synergy effect from using the corona treatment in combination with an ethylene acrylic acid dispersion primer was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical-grade polyvinyl chloride was coated by polysaccharides through a novel physicochemical approach. An initial surface activation was performed foremost via diffuse coplanar surface barrier discharge plasma in air at ambient temperature and pressure. Then, radical graft copolymerization of acrylic acid through grafting-from pathway was directed to render a well-defined brush of high density, and finally a chitosan monolayer and chitosan/pectin alternating multilayer were bound onto the functionalized surfaces. Surface characteristics were systematically investigated using several probe techniques. In vitro bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation assays indicated that a single chitosan layer was incapable of hindering the adhesion of a Staphylococcus aureus bacterial strain, while up to 30% reduction was achieved by the chitosan/pectin layered assembly. On the other hand, chitosan and chitosan/pectin multilayer could retard Escherichia coli adhesion by 50% and 20%, respectively. Furthermore, plasma treated and graft copolymerized samples were also found effective to diminish the degree of adherence of Escherichia coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the study of surface and adhesive properties of polypropylene grafted by maleic anhydride (MA). In this study, the adhesive and surface properties of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) grafted by MA have been evaluated. The focus of the undertaking is the analysis of the change in hydrophyllicity as well as to the mechanical work and interfacial equilibrium of the adhesion of MA grafted iPP copolymer containing different level of the grafted MA. It is posed that the surface energy of iPP-g-MA increases with MA level.

Highlights: [•] The Younǵs modulus of the composites increased 13times. [•] The flexural strength of composites was improved 2 times. [•] The polarity of LDPE was significantly enhanced. [•] The adhesion of composites to the polar substrates was improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The percolation concentration of the filler within the HDPE matrix is 8vol.%. [•] The electrical conductivity of the composite increased in 22 orders. [•] The thermal conductivity of the composite increased four times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]