Surface Energy of Thermoplastics

Hi heman2727,

Surface energy of materials is an important issue in the laminating industry, or for that matter, any time you want to bond two materials together.

Surface energy on relatively smooth surfaces is measured most commonly with "dyne solutions" (not an endorsement) - these come in solutions to test a specific surface energy range; some of the solution is spread onto the test surface and if it beads up after several seconds, a lower dyne value solution is tried. When the surface wets without beading up, you know what your surface energy is in dynes.

For an example, say I want to laminate a 3-mil PE film to a polyester film. I find that the dyne level is 32. This is too low for my adhesive to get a good bond with. What do I do? I can corona or plasma treat (again, not an endorsement) it or even use a chemical solution (two meanings!).

I do not know the relationship of surface energy between amorphous and crystallized polymers, but you should have enough links here to get you started.

Mike

Since you don't tell us why you want to know this, it's hard to provide answers.

If your goal is to bond two items together, just do a water break test on the surfaces.

Bondable (high energy) surfaces will allow the water to sheet smoothly over the entire surface of the adherends. If the water beads like a freshly waxed car you have low energy surfaces and treatments such as those suggested by Mikerho are indicated.

More information might yield more specific answers. Or not.

.

Please don't double-post, heman2727.

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/51569

Sometimes, it takes a while to get an answer. Patience is a virtue.