Importance of the Surface Layer for Polymer Materials

Abstract

The surface layer of polymers exhibits different composition, morphology and structure, also in the nanoscale, from the bulk material. The paper demonstrates the clearest examples, discussing consequences of the gradient nature of the materials from the aspect of their exploitation (mainly hardness profile and friction). The ability of low molecular weight substances to migrate in a polymer matrix and the surface segregation occurring in polymer blends, are studied by FTIR, AFM, XPS, microindentation, microfriction, contact angle and DSC techniques. It has been proved that the surface layer of polymer materials can be shaped during both compounding and processing.