Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals, Vol.471, 99-111, 2007
Characterization of polymer thin films sputtered onto a copper substrate with two kinds of polyimide targets
Polymer thin films were sputtered with two kinds of polyimide (PI) targets, pyromellitic dianhydride-oxydianiline (PMDA-ODA) and biphenyl dianhydride-p-phenylene diamine (BPDA-PDA), onto a copper substrate by a conventional RF sputtering with argon (Ar) and nitrogen (N-2). These polymer thin films were characterized, and their adhesion and tribological properties were evaluated. Sputtering rate of the polymer thin film with PMDA-ODA target (sputtered PMDA-ODA thin film) with Ar was higher than that with BPDA-PDA target. Although the sputtering rate of the polymer thin film with the BPDA-PDA target (sputtered BPDA-PDA thin film) with Ar showed highest value at a pressure of 5 mTorr, that with N-2 showed highest value at a pressure of 60 mTorr. Nitrogen content in the sputtered BPDA-PDA thin film with N-2 increased compared to that of the sputtered BPDA-PDA thin film with Ar and target material (pristine). Although friction coefficients of these sputtered BPDA-PDA thin films with Ar were almost the same as those of the pristine PIs, that of the sputtered BPDA-PDA thin film with N-2 was much higher than that of the pristine BPDA-PDA. The wear durability of the sputtered PMDA-ODA thin film with Ar was slightly higher than that of sputtered BPDA-PDA thin film. The wear durability of the sputtered BPDA-PDA thin film with N-2 was much higher than that of the polymer thin film sputtered with Ar.
Keywords:adhesion strength;copper substrate;friction coefficient;polyimide;RF sputtering;thin film;wear durability