Improving mechanical performance of thermoplastic adhesion joints by atmospheric plasma

Polyethylene (PE) is characterized by low surface energy as a consequence of its non-polar nature. This characteristic is responsible for poor adhesion properties on polyethylene substrates. It is well known that some industrial applications such as coating, painting and formation of adhesion joints require high surface energy to promote good anchorages, so that, the use of polyethylene in these applications needs a previous surface treatment. In this work atmospheric plasma has been used to promote surface activation on polyethylene substrates for improved adhesion properties. The work has been focused on analyzing the influence of some variables (treatment rate and nozzle-sample distance) on mechanical performance of PE–PE adhesion joints subjected to shear and T-peel tests.

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► Effect of atmospheric plasma treatment on LDPE surfaces has been studied.
► Wettability obtained of LDPE surface depending on the plasma processes conditions.
► Functionalization and abrasion acts simultaneously during the plasma treatment.
► Atmospheric plasma is an effective method to improve the LDPE surface wettability.