Chapter 10 – Surface Treatment of Webs and Foils

If the substrate is contaminated any coating may be poorly adhered to the surface. If adhesion is important to the final product then it may be necessary to modify the substrate surface in order to improve the adhesion. If the treatment is done at atmospheric pressure before the roll of substrate is supplied then the time between treatment and vacuum deposition can be critical as surface age. This chapter describes how substrate surfaces can be contaminated and how surface treatments can improve the surface sufficient to obtain the desired adhesion. There is also an important warning that a measurement of surface energy is no indication of adhesion.