Interaction of epoxy model molecules with aluminium, anodised titanium and copper surfaces: an XPS study

The interaction of a variety of epoxy model molecules (representative of uncured, part-cured and fully-cured epoxy/polyamine adhesive/coating systems) with aluminium, anodised titanium and copper was examined using XPS. No interaction with epoxy functionalised molecules could be observed, but a strong interaction with nitrogenous molecules was noted. Copper surfaces were found to form copper-molecular complex films, whereas anodised titanium and aluminium appear to form adsorbed monolayers. However, the binding mechanism of these molecules on titanium and aluminium showed significant differences, with Bronsted (protonic) acid/base bonding more important on titanium than aluminium.