A research team has used plasma treatment to make fluoropolymers and silicone resin adhere without any adhesives. Heat-assisted helium-plasma treatment created oxygen-containing functional groups on PTFE or PFA, while open-air plasma-jetting installed silanol groups on vulcanized PDMS. Under pressure, the treated PDMS strongly adhered to the treated polymers, copper, and glass through covalent and hydrogen bonds of silanol. Adhesive-free adhesion allows resins and polymers to be used in food and medicine industries.
