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1 min read

Surface Energy of Plastics

Surface Energy Of Plastics

Surface energy in plastics quantifies the disruption of intermolecular bonds in the material. A higher value indicates a stronger affinity between molecules. This value helps us determine how readily these molecules bond to other substances.

When working with any polymer, if the material surface energy is relatively low, then any coating will not flow well and fisheyes, pinholes, gaps, or air bubbles can form. If the material surface energy is too high, then the paint, ink, or coating may bleed or be difficult to control. Therefore, the surface tension of the liquid and the surface energy of the material must be matched for the application.

The Dynamics of Wetting are Described Below

Spreading = A - ( B + C )

Where:

  • A = Surface energy of solid (given below)
  • B = Surface tension of liquid
  • C = Surface energy of solid-liquid interface

If Spreading is:

  • Negative - Then, liquid will bead up.
  • Zero to Positive - Then, liquid will spread.

Surface Energy of Common Polymers

The table below shows the relative surface energy (in dynes/cm) of some common polymer materials.

Polymer Abbr. Polymer Name Surface Energy (dynes/cm) Contact Angles (degrees)
PES Polyethersulfone 46 90
  Styrene butadiene rubber 48  
PPO Polyphenylene oxide 47 75
  Nylon 6/6 (polyhexamethylene adipamide) 46  
PC Polycarbonate 46 75
  Nylon-6 (polycaprolactam) 38  
PET Polyethylene terephthalate 42 76
PMMA Polymethylmethacrylate 41 82
SAN Styrene acrylonitrile 40 74
  Polyimide 40 83
PVC r Polyvinyl chloride, rigid 39 90
  Polyester 41 70
  Acetal 36 85
ABS Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene 35 82
PPS Polyphenylene sulfide 38 87
PVA Polyvinyl alcohol 37 10
  Polyacrylate (acrylic film) 35  
PVC p Polyvinyl chloride, plasticized 35 89
PS Polystyrene 34 72
  Nylon-12 36  
  Surlyn ionomer 33 80
PBT Polybutylene teraphthalate 32 88
CTFE Polychlorotrifluoroethylene 31  
PP Polypropylene 30 88
PU Polyurethane 38 85
PE Polyethylene 30 88
PVF Polyvinyl fluoride 28  
PVDF Polyvinylidene fluoride 25 80
  Natural rubber 24  
PDMS Polydimethyl siloxane (silicone elastomer) 23 98
FEP Fluorinated ethylene propylene 20 98
PTFE Polytetrafluoroethylene 19 120

Methods for Improving Surface Energy

To improve the surface energy of plastics and make them more amenable to adhesion, printing, or other applications, methods such as corona, flame, or plasma surface treatment are often used. These processes modify the surface chemistry and increase its energy, making the plastic more receptive to coatings, inks, or adhesives.

If you are interested in any of these services or have questions for our engineers, we encourage you to get in touch.

Watch our video for more on this topic:

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