Interactions at polymer/(oxyhydr)oxide/aluminium interfaces studied by Scanning Kelvin Probe

In this work, molecular interactions at buried polymer/(oxyhydr)oxide/aluminium interface were revealed by means of potential measurements after the application of either an emulsion or an epoxy‐amine coating on aluminium surface. While no significant potential shift (PS) was observed after the application of an emulsion, bonding of the oxide surface with an epoxy‐amine coating considerably decreased the potential, and as such, the potential in the latter case was further investigated as a function of surface pretreatment and relative humidity (40% and 90%). Results showed that both parameters individually contribute to the observed PS. The above was followed by studying the interfacial molecular bonding after the deposition of model compounds on the aluminium surface, by means of Scanning Kelvin Probe and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Phenol‐based compounds showed no sign of adsorption unlike amine molecules which were found to have been adsorbed on the aluminium surface. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.