ABSTRACT
Plasma surface modification using a H2/MeOH or H2/H2O radio frequency glow discharge (RFGD) plasma has been demonstrated to be an effective means for (1) defluorinating fluoropolymers to a precisely controlled extent and (2) adding stable, but reactive alcohol functionality to the defluorinated sites. These plasma modified surfaces are quite reactive and have been shown to be effective for covalently bonding and adhering numerous materials such as, organosilane coupling agents, biological recognition elements, eukaryotic cell lines, peptides, adhesives, and polyelectrolytes (including conducting polymers). In addition, by first bonding a selected crosslinking agent, we have demonstrated an effective means for bonding conducting metals through electroless metallization deposition techniques. Finally, these materials have also been used in conjunction with conventional photolithographic techniques, enabling the fabrication of micrometer sized patterns of various materials onto selected regions of fluoropolymer surfaces.
In this paper we describe how the unique alcohol chemistry synthesized on fluoropolymer surfaces is effective for directly bonding metals to fluoropolymer surfaces without the use of coupling agents.
