The book provides a unique overview on laser techniques and applications for the purpose of improving adhesion by altering surface chemistry and topography/morphology of the substrate. It details laser surface modification techniques for a wide range of industrially relevant materials (plastics, metals, ceramics, composites) with the aim to improve and enhance their adhesion to other materials. The joining of different materials is of critical importance in the fabrication of many and varied products.

Kashmiri Lal Mittal was employed by the IBM Corporation from 1972 through 1993. Currently, he is teaching and consulting worldwide in the broad areas of adhesion as well as surface cleaning. He has received numerous awards and honors including the title of doctor honoris causa from Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Lublin, Poland. He is the editor of more than 110 volumes dealing with adhesion measurement, adhesion of polymeric coatings, polymer surfaces, adhesive joints, adhesion promoters, thin films, polyimides, surface modification, surface cleaning, and surfactants. Dr. Mittal is also the Founding Editor of the journalReviews of Adhesion and Adhesives.

Thomas Bahners is a scientist at the German Textile Research Center at Krefeld, Germany.

Preface xv

Part 1: Laser Surface Treatment/Modification to Enhance Adhesion

1 Nd:YAG Laser Surface Treatment of Various Materials to Enhance Adhesion 3
A. Buchman, M. Rotel and H. Dodiuk-Kenig

1.1 Introduction 4

1.2 Methodology 13

1.3 Experimental 13

1.4 Results 17

1.5 Conclusions 49

References 51

2 Effects of Excimer Laser Treatment on Self-Adhesion Strength of Some Commodity (PS, PP) and Engineering (ABS) Plastics 55
Erol Sancaktar, Hui Lu and Nongnard Sunthonpagasit

2.1 Introduction 56

2.2 Background and Literature Survey 56

2.3 Ultrasonic Welding of Thermoplastics 65

2.4 Experimental Procedures 71

2.5 Results and Discussion 74

2.6 Summary and Conclusions 94

References 97

3 Laser Surface Pre-Treatment of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Plastics (CFRPs) for Adhesive Bonding 103
F. Fischer, S. Kreling and K. Dilger

3.1 Introduction 103

3.2 State-of-Research 105

3.3 Materials and Methods 110

3.4 Laser Sources and Principles 112

3.5 Results 121

3.6 Summary 134

References 135

4 Laser Surface Modification of Fibers for Improving Fiber/Resin Interfacial Interactions in Composites 139
Anil N. Netravali

4.1 Introduction 140

4.2 Excimer Laser Treatment of UHMWPE Fibers 143

4.3 Excimer Laser Treatment of Vectran Fibers 154

4.4 Excimer Laser Treatment of Aramid Fibers 159

4.5 Excimer Laser Treatment of Cellulose Fibers 160

4.6 Summary 161

References 162

5 Laser Surface Modification in Dentistry: Effect on the Adhesion of Restorative Materials 167
Regina Guenka Palma-Dibb, Juliana Jendiroba Faraoni-Romano and Walter Raucci-Neto

5.1 Introduction 167

5.2 Dental Structures 173

5.3 Adhesion of Restorative Materials 180

5.4 Laser Light Interaction with the Dental Substrate 186

5.5 Dental Structure Ablation and Influence on Bond Strength of Restorative Materials 190

5.6 Summary and Prospects 196

References 196

Part 2: Other Effects/Applications of Laser Surface Treatment

6 Fundamentals of Laser-Polymer Interactions and their Relevance to Polymer Metallization 205
Piotr Rytlewski

6.1 Introduction 205

6.2 Impact of Laser Radiation on a Polymeric Material 208

6.3 Laser Selection Criteria 215

6.4 Surface Modification of Polymeric Materials Below Ablation Threshold 220

6.5 Surface Modification of Polymeric Materials Above Ablation Threshold 233

6.6 Application of Lasers to Polymer Metallization 241

6.7 Summary 251

Acknowledgement 252

References 252

7 Laser Patterning of Silanized Carbon/Polymer Bipolar Plates with Tailored Wettability for Fuel Cell Applications 263
Martin Schade, Steffen Franzka, Anja Schrter, Franco Cappuccio, Volker Peinecke, Angelika Heinzel and Nils Hartmann

7.1 Introduction 264

7.2 Silane-based Coatings 269

7.3 Laser Processing of Silane-based Coatings 271

7.4 Fabrication and Plasma Activation of Bipolar Plates 272

7.5 Silanization of Bipolar Plates 276

7.6 Laser Processing of Bipolar Plates 278

7.7 Summary 282

7.8 Prospects 283

Acknowledgments 283

References 284

8 Predominant and Generic Parameters Governing the Wettability Characteristics of Selected Laser-modified Engineering Materials 289
Jonathan Lawrence, David Waugh and Hao Liang

8.1 Introduction 290

8.2 Modification of Wettability Characteristics Using Laser Beams 291

8.3 Laser Wettability Characteristics Modification of Selected Ceramics 296

8.4 Laser Wettability Characteristics Modification of Selected Metals 307

8.5 Laser Wettability Characteristics Modification of a Selected Polymer 316

8.6 Summary and Conclusions 329

References 331

9 Laser Surface Engineering of Polymeric Materials and the Effects on Wettability Characteristics 337
D.G. Waugh, D. Avdic, K.J. Woodham and J. Lawrence

9.1 Introduction 337

9.2 Wettability Characteristics 338

9.3  State-of-the-Art Surface Engineering Techniques 345

9.4 Summary 366

References 367

10 Water Adhesion to Laser-Treated Surfaces 377
Athanasios Milionis, Despina Fragouli, Ilker S. Bayer and Athanassia Athanassiou

10.1 Introduction 377

10.2 Materials, Fabrication Approaches and Results 381

10.3 Applications 395

10.4 Prospects 404

10.5 Summary 406

Acknowledgement 406

References 407