Surface and interface characterization of chlorinated polyolefin coated thermoplastic polyolefin

• Published in: JCT research 2005, Vol.2 (5), p.407-416
• Main Authors: YUECHUN MA, WINNIK, Mitchell A, YANEFF, Philipp V, RYNTZ, Rose A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chlorination; Coating, metallization, dyeing; Copolymers; Exact sciences and technology; Fluorescent dyes; Isopropanol; Machinery and processing; Micrometers; Olefinic thermoplastic elastomers; Plastics; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polyolefins; Polypropylene; Roughness; Substrates; Technology of polymers
• ISSN: 1547-0091; 2168-8028; 1935-3804
• DOI: 10.1007/s11998-005-0008-8

Laser scanning con focal fluorescence microscopy measurements were performed on thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) substrates that were coated with chlorinated polyolefin (CPO). The TPO investigated was a blend o f high modulus polypropylene with an ethylene-butene copolymer (EBR9) containing 9 wt% butene. The CPO was a maleated chlorinated polypropylene containing 20 wt% Cl. The purpose o f these experiments was to obtain detailed mechanistic information about the CPO-TPO interaction. To achieve acceptable contrast in these measurements, a fluorescent dye was covalently attached to a small portion o f the CPO. Solvent wiping o f the TPO substrates with isopropyl alcohol followed by xylenes prior to coating with CPO increased the mean roughness of the TPO surface by more than 100 run; but it had a much larger effect on the roughness of the (several micrometers) CPO-TPO interface after coating. The EBR component of the TPO was shown to be exclusively responsible for the roughness increase. We also found evidence of a diffuse interface between the CPO and ERB components that was localized to sites in which the EBR was present at the TPO surface.