Thermodynamics of polymer-paper adhesion: a review

A review of studies of polymer-paper adhesion illustrates the thermodynamic nature of the bondability of polymers to plain, uncoated paper surfaces. The bond strength depends strongly on the chemical nature of the polymer surface and on that of the fibrous paper surface. Adhesion to paper may be characterized indirectly through thermodynamic analysis of the paper substrate, or directly through paper laminate or adhesion tape peel testing. The need for adequate paper adhesion is emphasized, particularly for some of the newer printing processes (electrophotographic and thermal imaging). It is concluded that some of the indirect methods of adhesion characterization (surface energetics analysis via contact angle measurements or the inverse gas chromatography technique) may serve to characterize paper adhesion in these processes.