ABSTRACT
In the present study the mechanisms and effectiveness of various pretreatments for fluoropolymers were studied. The pretreatments were “Tetra-Etch,” various plasmas, flame and potassium hydroxide. “Tetra-Etch” was found to be much more reactive than potassium hydroxide (KOH) towards fluoropolymers. The plasma treatment of PTFE showed that it was possible to get substantial increases in adhesion with little or no chemical change to the polymer. However, to obtain large increases in adhesion it may be necessary to modify PTFE chemically as with “Tetra-Etch.” Consideration of the bonding of these fluoropolymers shows that sharp interfaces between these substrates and adhesives do not exist.
