Atmospheric plasma torch treatment of aluminium: Improving wettability with silanes

This study investigates the effect of atmospheric pressure plasma torch (APPT) treatments on the surface of aluminium alloys. The influence of torch-to-sample distance, speed of treatment and ageing time is analyzed in terms of contact angles and surface energy. Results show that APPT treatment strongly increases the surface energy and wettability of aluminium surfaces. This is related to the formation of polar groups, as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy has confirmed. In all conditions, hydrophobic recovery of aluminium surfaces takes place. Finally, the compatibility of the APPT treated aluminium substrate with γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS) has been evaluated through adhesion work and spread tension, showing that it is possible to achieve a spontaneous wetting process of silane on aluminium.