A New Method for the Study of Adhesion: Application of Inelastic Electron Tunneling Spectroscopy

Inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy provides an incredibly sensitive and versatile method of detecting and identifying molecular species adsorbed on the surface of a metal oxide. IETS spectra have been measured on the components of the commercial adhesive, Hercules 3501. This epoxy system consists of two molecular components; diamino diphenyl sulfone (DPS) and tetraglycidycl 4,4' diamino diphenyl methane (DPM). IETS spectra of the individual components and of the epoxy mixture adsorbed on aluminum oxide have been obtained and the vibrational modes and frequencies assigned by comparison with computer calculations and existing infrared optical spectra.

IETS is a useful tool for the study of molecular adhesion to an oxide. It is one of the most important methods available for determining the interface physics and chemistry of adhesive bondlines. Its usefulness is greatly enhanced by the fact that in situ studies can be made.

Spectra have been obtained on the components and mixture of the high performance, two component epoxy Hercules 3501. The vibrational modes were identified by comparison with infrared and Raman data, and with computer calculations using force constant information. Evidence for an aging effect was found in the DPS component.

It is suggested that initial studies using IETS should be applied to adhesives of simple molecular structure before proceeding to more complex systems.