The adhesion between metals and polymers is normally weak because they have drastically different electronic properties and interfacial bonding between metals and organic polymers is not readily affected by conventional coating techniques. The ion beam enhanced deposition (IBED) approach to improve adhesion focuses on the promotion of non-equilibrium “interdiffusion” and the creation of nucleation sites at the interfaces by low energy ion bombardment before and during metal deposition onto the polymer substrate.
The results of our work show a significant improvement of adhesion at the metal (Au)/polymer (Teflon) interface.