Effects of silane on the interfacial fracture of a parylene film over a stainless steel substrate

Parylene can be coated on stainless steel substrates with and without γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (γ-MPS) as an adhesion promoter. In order to study the effects of silane (γ-MPS) on the adhesion and mixed-mode interfacial fracture performance between parylene C and 316L stainless steel, this paper presents the results of a combined experimental and theoretical approach. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to obtain pull-off forces between parylene coated AFM tips with or without γ-MPS and 316L substrates. A combination of adhesion theories and fracture mechanics models was then used to obtain estimates of the fracture energy release rates over a wide range of mode mixities between pure mode I and pure mode II. The trends in the estimates were shown to be in good agreement with experimental measurements of interfacial fracture toughness obtained from Brazil nut tests coated with parylene C in the presence or absence of γ-MPS over the same range of mode mixities. The study determined that the contribution of silane to the adhesion of parylene C to 316L steel was modest. - Highlights: ► An integrated experimental and modeling approach was applied to characterize effects of silane on interfacial fracture behavior of a parylene film over a stainless steel substrate. ► AFM measurements were obtained for the adhesion of parylene over stainless steel in the presence and absence wiht γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane(γ-MPS). ► Brazil nut test was also used to measure interfacial fracture energy release rates over a wide range of mode mixities. ► Good agreement was achieved between these measurements and predictions from both zone and row fracture mechanics models.