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In this study, the effect of simultaneous plasma treatment and thermal annealing on the diffusion of Ag in low and high‐density polyethylene (LDPE and HDPE) and on intermixing at the metal/polymer interface is examined. Metal layers were deposited onto 50 μm thick LDPE and HDPE foils using diode sputtering. Concentration profiles of Ag were determined by Rutherford back‐scattering spectrometry (RBS). Ag diffusion coefficients in LDPE and HDPE were extracted from measured Ag depth profiles. Diffusion coefficients 5.05×10–14– 6.78×10–14 cm2.s–1 and 2.44×10–14–4.66×10–14 cm2.s–1 were found for Ag in HDPE and Ag in LDPE, respectively. Morphology changes after the plasma treatment were determined using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and from RBS measurements as well. Surface fraction of Ag and plasma induced surface chemistry modification was investigated using XPS analysis. The signal of Ag bonded on polymer structure was identified and degradation of polymer substrate was observed in XPS spectra. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

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