EFFECT OF ION BEAM ASSISTED CLEANING ON ADHESION OF ALUMINIUM TO POLYMER SUBSTRATE OF PC AND PMMA

As metallic surface has its unique lustrous appearance and optical reflectance in visible range of light, the metallization of plastic surface has been an essential drive toward weight reduction for fuel economy and decorations in transportation industry and has been put into practiced from wet chemical-electrochemial to dry vacuum process in view of an environmental effect. Electron-beam metallization was used in this work with an aim at improving the scratchproof surface hardness of plastic substrate with metallic finish character. Thin film of Al ($1000\AA$) and $SiO_2$($7000\AA$) were metallized on substrate of PC and PMMA and the films were evaluated by pencil test for surface hardness and by cross-cut tape test for adhesion. The ion beam treatment improved around twice as hard as non-treat surface. The ion beam is effect on its hardness and adhesion to surface hardened PC substrate.