Date Approved

2-18-2003

Date Posted

10-1-2009

Degree Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department or School

Engineering Technology

Committee Member

Dr. J. David Nordstrom

Committee Member

Dr. Erik Lokensgard

Abstract

Polyolefin plastic (i.e. polypropylene, polyethylene, thermoplastic olefin i.e. TPO and blends) articles formed by injection molding have been found to have many useful applications. Many costly and/or hazardous methods are employed to increase the surface energy to a level that promotes the ability of a coating or adhesive to make intimate contact and thereby bond to the molded surface. The method described herein refers to a process that could eliminate the need for a post molding process such as solvent or waterborne adhesion promoting primers or expensive, hazardous surface treatment equipment by modifying the plastic surface during the injection molding process.

The method described in this project was found to demonstrate the modification of a nonpolar, polyolefin, plastic surface to that of a chlorine rich plastic surface, during the injection molding process. This change in character of the plastic surface also resulted in improved adhesion of a waterborne paint system.

Share

COinS