Glossary of surface technology
Adhesion promoters
Adhesion promoters (primers) are substances improving the adhesion between two phases, e.g. a substrate and a coat. The effect of adhesion promoters is based on the fact that they form sufficiently strong non-polar, polar or covalent bonds with both phases, which are stronger than the bonds between the two phases. Using primers in combination with a plasma cleaning or plasma activation process offers optimum possibilities for bonding of two phases, in particular for permanent activation of a surface.