Bonding of Polyethylene to Gold

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has had a profound impact on the surface chemical analysis of polymers, particularly in the identification of chemical species resulting from surface treatments that render so-called "unbondable" or non-polar polymers such as polyethylene suitable for adhesive bonding. 1 This has occurred because XPS is a sensitive probe for examining the chemical nature of organic and inorganic surfaces. Recently, several investigators have adopted the XPS techniques as a primary method for attempting to answer some questions which are basic to adhesion science.2 These are, i) Is it necessary to oxidize polymer surfaces prior to adhesive bonding or to generate such polar surfaces in situ in order to obtain a strong adhesive joint?, and ii) Does one have to invoke covalent bonding at the polymer-metal interface to explain a strong adhesive joint?