Survey of Common Process and Product Parameters Designed to Improve Adhesion of Polyethylene, 1998 Polymers, Laminations & Coatings Conference Proceedings

Over the past several years, various auxiliary items have been designed to increase adhesion of polyethylene to various substrates. Most notably, these include corona and flame treaters, ozone applicators, and priming systems. Many of these systems have been perfected so that installation is relatively simple. There are also several substrate polymer products designed for use in coextrusions and blends that give the line operator, foreman, or plant process engineer several items to examine when faced with an adhesion issue or when developing an adhesion specification for a new or existing application.

This focus of this paper will be the products and process techniques associated with those products available today to improve adhesion. Additionally, this paper will attempt to provide some troubleshooting solutions to obtaining adhesion to the more difficult substrates increasingly used today that include clay-coated recycled board, foil or metallized film, and non-surface modified OPP or PET.