Low-temperature graft copolymerization of 1-vinyl imidazole on low-density polyethylene films with simultaneous lamination of copper foils

Surface modification of argon plasma-pretreated low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films by graft copolymerization with 1-vinyl imidazole (VIDz) and with concurrent lamination of copper foils at room temperature and at an elevated temperature were carried out. The adhesion strengths were reported as lap shear adhesion strengths and T-peel strengths. The surfaces of the graft copolymerized films and the mechanically delaminated LDPE and Cu surfaces were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was found that plasma pretreatment of LDPE alone, and in the absence of VIDz, could give rise to strong lap shear adhesion between the polymer and copper. Significant T-peel strengths, however, were obtained only for LDPE/Cu laminates obtained from the simultaneous graft copolymerization and lamination technique. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.