Excimer laser surface modification of high density polyethylene (HDPE) for enhanced bonding with adhesives

Abstract

Recently Duley, et al reported the use of UV and CO2 laser radiation to surface modify HDPE to reduce gasoline permeability. Concurrently, this author has been investigating the effect of excimer laser radiation (KrF, 248nm) on high density polyethylene (HDPE) to enhance bond strength when HDPE is bonded with a cyanoacrylate adhesive. Both raw beam and focused (25mm × 0.8mm) beam studies have been conducted with the focused beam seeming to have the most promise. Surface analysis (XPS, SEM, ATR) of treated surfaces as well as the enhancement of lap-shear bond strengths will be reviewed. This excimer-laser surface-modification technique may become competitive with more standard techniques of chemical etching, plasma, corona, and flame treatments currently being used in today’s industry to prepare HDPE for adhesive bonding.Recently Duley, et al reported the use of UV and CO2 laser radiation to surface modify HDPE to reduce gasoline permeability. Concurrently, this author has been investigating the effect of excimer laser radiation (KrF, 248nm) on high density polyethylene (HDPE) to enhance bond strength when HDPE is bonded with a cyanoacrylate adhesive. Both raw beam and focused (25mm × 0.8mm) beam studies have been conducted with the focused beam seeming to have the most promise. Surface analysis (XPS, SEM, ATR) of treated surfaces as well as the enhancement of lap-shear bond strengths will be reviewed. This excimer-laser surface-modification technique may become competitive with more standard techniques of chemical etching, plasma, corona, and flame treatments currently being used in today’s industry to prepare HDPE for adhesive bonding.