To create proper bonds for pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs), both the adhesive properties and substrate properties are critical. The highest concerns for the substrate are the surface chemistry and surface roughness. For PSAs, the intimate contact of the adhesive molecules with the molecules at the surface of the substrate can strongly affect overall performance.
For this article, the surface is considered the top 10 nm. Although bulk properties of the materials are critical to adhesion, chemistry and roughness at the bonding interface can compromise the adhesion of a system with good viscoelastic properties.