Plasma bonding of plastic films and applications

This article reviews “plasma bonding” of plastic films. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films can be bonded directly by oxygen plasma irradiation and heat-press at low temperatures of 100–160 °C. Functional groups of COOH and OH are detected on the irradiated surface. The irradiated films are kept in the atmosphere for 6 years, yet they can be bonded tightly. The irradiated surface is extremely active just after the irradiation, and it is still considerably active after 5 years.