ABSTRACT
This work is directed towards understanding the adhesion of polymers onto various metal surfaces in terms of the acid-base properties of the adhering polymer and of the oxide-covered metal. The acid/base nature of the oxide film on various metal surfaces and the acid/base nature of selected polymers were determined by contact angle methods. The surface isoelectric point for native air-formed oxide
*To whom correspondence should be addressed. +Visiting Scientist. Permanent address: Naval Research Laboratory, Code 6134, Washington, DC
films on various metals was determined by measurement of contact angles at the hexadecane/aqueous solution interface as a function of the pH of the aqueous phase [1]. The acid-base properties of the various polymers, including a pressuresensitive adhesive (Scotch 610 Magic Tape®), were determined using the method of van Oss and Good [2-5]. Adhesion measurements for the pressure-sensitive adhesive on various metal substrates are interpreted in terms of the acid/base nature of the adhering polymer and of the surface oxide films on the metal substrates.
