Adhesion properties of polymer coatings on metals subjected to deformations during manufacturing process are of great interest to modern industrial applications, including automotive industry and packaging of food. In this work, the effect of plastic deformations of metal substrate on the adhesion properties of polymer-metal interface is investigated. Steel samples laminated with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were subjected to uniaxial tensile deformations which in some cases were followed by a thermal treatment. The experimental method used in this study is a laser induced delamination technique [1].

Particular interest was focused on the effect on adhesion of in-plane stress fields introduced in the coating by the deformation. Under certain conditions, such stresses can lead to a spontaneous delamination. In the experiments performed, both the practical work of adhesion and the in-plane stresses present in the coating were measured.

The measurements have demonstrated degradation of adhesion of the metal-polymer interface as the deformation of the substrate increases. In line with expectations, the in-plane stresses introduced in the coating increased with the deformation. After annealing of the samples partial restoration of the adhesion was observed.

1. A. Fedorov, J.T.M. De Hosson, J. Appl. Physics 97, 123510 (2005)