This theory postulates that the interface zone is plastic, allowing stresses between the polymer and mineral surfaces to self-relieve without bond rupture. Internal stresses are thus reduced. It has been suggested that in the case of a silane, the film is too thin to allow this [11]. However, it is possible that the presence of the coupling agent might cause preferential adsorption. Credence for this view is given by the number of
Table 1 Evidence for Coupling Activity
aFTIR, Fourier transform infrared; ESCA, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis; SIMS, secondary-ion mass spectrometry; NMR, nuclear magnetic resonance. |
workers who report that the amount of adhesion promoter used is critical and that excessive usage may result in adhesion failure [16,17].