Surface modification for adhesion enhancement of PET-laminated steel using atmospheric pressure plasma

Tin free steel plate (TFS) that is substrate of the PET-laminated steel has been treated by atmospheric pressure plasma at room temperature in order to enhance the surface adhesive properties. After plasma treatment, the water-contact angle measurement was conducted and the surface-free energy of the TFS plate was proved to be increased. Besides, the peel-off test for adhesive property of PET-laminated steel also was conducted and the adhesion between TFS and polymer (PET) was enhanced remarkably. From the results of XPS and SEM analysis, we could confirm that new functional groups causing the adhesion enhancement were generated under the carbon cleaning effect and surface oxidation effect by reactive species in the plasma, such as atomic oxygen etc.