A review of electrochemical pretreatments of polymers

Methods of electrochemically generating the oxidising, or reducing conditions required for the pretreatment of various polymers are discussed. These include the reversible anodic or cathodic generation of soluble redox reagents as mediators capable of reacting with the polymer surface. Pretreatments involving directly contacting the polymer surface with the polarised electrode are also reviewed. The mechanisms of the underlying reactions are discussed in some detail and parallels are drawn wherever possible between the chemical and electrochemical pretreatments. Lap shear and peel test data obtained for the electrochemical pretreatment of a number of hydrocarbon based polymers including elastomers, as well as a number of fully and partially halogenated polymers are reviewed.