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.