| AVS 66th International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Fundamental Aspects of Material Degradation Focus Topic | Thursday Sessions |
| Session DM+BI+SS-ThM |
| Session: | Material Stabilities and Technology for Degradation Protection |
| Presenter: | Sven Pletincx, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium |
| Authors: | S. Pletincx, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium L.-L. Fockaert, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands J.M.C. Mol, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands H. Terryn, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium T. Hauffman, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
The mechanisms governing coating/metal oxide delamination are not yet fully understood, although strong and durable adhesive interactions at the interface are considered to be an important prerequisite for good coating durability. Achieving adequate adhesion strengths between an organic and inorganic system in various operating conditions is one of the complex challenges of interface engineering. However, obtaining local chemical information at this solid/solid interface is challenging, since common surface sensitive analysis techniques only operate under vacuum conditions, making it impossible to probe environmental effects in situ.1
The analysis of this so-called buried interfaces is achieved by characterizing ultrathin polymer films onto a metal oxide substrate by ambient-pressure photoelectron spectroscopy (APXPS).2 Here, we show that APXPS with a conventional X-ray source can be used to study the effects of water exposure on the interaction of acrylic coatings with aluminum oxide. This is done by making the polymer layer sufficiently thin to probe the interface non-destructively.
A spectroelectrochemical setup of in situ ATR-FTIR Kretschmann and Odd Random Phase Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (ORP-EIS) on a complementary model system is used to characterize and monitor the formed bonds at the metal oxide/polymer interface.3 A nanometer thin aluminum layer is sputtered on an IR transparent crystal, such that the IR signal reaches the oxide/polymer interface, obtaining a near-interface spectrum. This way, we have direct access to the interface, and the influence of an above-the-polymer electrolyte (i.e. H2O) is probed. Simultaneously the protective properties and corrosion processes of the overall hybrid system are monitored by ORP-EIS.
This work shows that by using ultrathin films in combination with a set of recently developed techniques, it is possible to non-destructively and in situ probe interfacial changes in hybrid systems.
1. Watts, J. F. The Interfacial Chemistry of Adhesion: Novel Routes to the Holy Grail? Adhes. Curr. Res. Appl. 1–16 (2006). doi:10.1002/3527607307.ch1
2. Pletincx, S. et al. In Situ Characterization of the Initial Effect of Water on Molecular Interactions at the Interface of Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Systems. Sci. Rep.7, 45123 (2017).
3. Pletincx, S. et al. In Situ Methanol Adsorption on Aluminum Oxide Monitored by a Combined ORP-EIS and ATR-FTIR Kretschmann Setup. J. Phys. Chem. C122, 21963–21973 (2018).