This work deals with characterization of polypropylene (PP) exposed to plasma discharge and gold layers deposited on the plasma modified PP. PP foils were exposed to Ar plasma and subsequently metallized with sputtered Au layer. Chemical structure of the plasma modified PP was studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Rutherford backscattering (RBS). Wettability of the plasma modified PP and its changes during sample aging were determined by goniometry. Surface morphology of PP and deposited Au layers was measured with atomic force microscopy (AFM). Continuity of Au layers was characterized by measuring their sheet resistance. With increasing exposure time in the plasma discharge the water contact angle decreases and the polymer surface becomes more hydrophilic. During the aging of the plasma treated samples the contact angle increases again. Plasma treatment leads to a decrease of the PP surface roughness and to generation of oxygen-containing polar groups on PP surface. During sample aging the concentration of the oxygen-containing groups decreases. (C) Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2010