ABSTRACT
Energetic, thermal, and chemical characteristics of the surface
differ significantly from the bulk of polymer materials [1]. It is
the result of their different chemical composition and physical
structure, constituting already at the stage of material processing
[2]. Tailoring properties of polymer and rubber goods is very often
realized by chemical or physical treatment of their surface [3, 4].
Modification of the surface layer of polymer materials takes place
also during their exploitation and accompanies aging processes [5].
Due to its limited depth, the role of the surface layer in polymer
technology and applications used to be very often underestimated
or even neglected. It is reflected, for example, by testing methods,
dominated by determination of volume properties of materials and
technical products, whereas many phenomena and processes such
as abrasion, swelling, aging, or burning, deciding themost important
properties of polymer materials and rubber, originate and continue
in their surface layer.