Method for low temperature lamination of metals to fluoropolymers

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a method for the low temperature lamination of metals, and especially copper, to the surface of inert fluoropolymers. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for surface modification of fluoropolymers by thermal graft copolymerization with concurrent lamination of copper metal in the presence of a functional monomer.

When thermal grafting or graft copolymerization occurred on the pre-activated surface and interface of a fluoropolymer in contact with a metal surface, lamination occurs simultaneously. The surface and interfacial graft copolymerization with concurrent lamination of the metal are carried out under atmospheric conditions, and in the complete absence of an added polymerization initiator or system degassing. The process and properties can be imparted on the inert surfaces of most fluoropolymers in contact with a preferred metal.

Thermal grafting or graft copolymerization with concurrent lamination can be carried out in the presence of one or more functional monomers including, but not limited to, 1-vinyl imidazole (VIDZ), 1-allyl imidazole, 2-vinyl pyridine (2VP), 4-vinyl pyridine (4VP), 2,4,6-triallyloxy-1,3,5-triazine, 1,2,4-trivinylcyclohexane and triallyl-1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate, epoxide-containing monomers, hydroxy-containing monomers, amine-containing monomers, monomers of polyelectrolyte and monomers of polyampholyte.

The lap shear adhesion interface can readily exceed the tensile yield strength of the substrate polymer film. The lap shear adhesion strength of the so-laminated fluoropolymer-copper interface can readily exceed the tensile yield strength of the substrate film. The T-peel strengths of the so-laminated fluoropolymer-metal interfaces are in excess of 8 N/cm, with delamination occurs via cohesive failure of the polymer film. The strong adhesion between the polymer and the metal arises from the covalent bonding of the grafted functional chains on the fluoropolymer surface on one hand, and the strong adhesion, with or without charge transfer interaction, of the grafted functional chains to the metal surface on the other.

The present invention distinguishes itself from the prior art in that the grafting/lamination process is carried out at temperatures substantially below the melt processing or sintering temperature of the fluoropolymer and no adhesive is required to effect the lamination process under atmospheric conditions.

2. Description of Related Arts

One of the most important requirements for the fastest microelectronic devices of the near future will be the reduction of the signal interconnection delay time to a small fraction of total switching delay time. One method of lowering this delay time relates to the use of multilayer devices incorporating highly conductive metal, such as copper, and low capacitance dielectrics, such as the fluoropolymers.

Of all the dielectric materials, the fluoropolymer, in particular poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) and its derivatives, are ideal dielectric materials, from the standpoints of electrical and thermal properties, for the packaging of microelectronics. With improved adhesion between fluoropolymer surfaces and at the interface of a fluoropolymer and a metal, the application of fluoropolymers in multi-chip module(MCM) packaging, for example, may become a reality. The physical and chemical inertness associated with most of the fluoropolymer, however, dictates the use of more drastic means for achieving the required surface modifications. The strategies of surface chemical and physical modification have been widely implemented for fluoropolymers and hydrocarbon polymers alike.

One of the major drawbacks of the most commonly utilized technique of plasma treatment is that the physicochemical characteristics of the modified polymer surfaces, including surface compositions, are time-ependent. Chain and polar group reorientation in the surface region can result in gradual deterioration of the surface reactivity. Furthermore, anomalous changes in oxygen and fluorine contents, and therefore also surface compositions, may result from the presence of surface hydrocarbon contamination during plasma treatment, as suggested by M. A. Golub, E. S. Lopata, L. S. Finney, Langmuir , 10, 3629 (1994). To overcome the time-dependent surface characteristics, the plasma-treated fluoropolymers have been subjected to further surface modification via graft copolymerization, as shown in K. L. Tan, L. L. Woon, H. K. Wong, E. T. Kang and K. G. Neoh, Macromolecules , 26, 2832 (1993); E. T. Kang, K. G. Neoh, W. Chen, K. L. Tan, C. C. Huang and D. J. Liaw, J. Adhesion Sci. Technol ., 10, 725 (1996); and Tie Wang, E. T. Kang, K, G, Neoh, K. L. Tan, C. Q. Cui and T. B. Lim, J. Adhesion Sci. Tech ., 11, 679 (1997). The factors affecting the adhesion of fluoropolymer composites to commercial copper foils have been summarized by L. J. Jimarez, L. J. Matienzo and A. A. Mehta in Transactions of the ASME , 115, 256 (1993). The fluoropolymer metallization for microelectronics application has also been reviewed recently by E. Sacher in Prog. Surf. Sci . 47 (3), 273 (1994).

The patent literature contains numerous disclosures of surface modification of fluoropolymers for adhesion enhancement. However, most of the cases are related to plasma or chemical surface treatment. A few cases are related to surface modification via graft copolymerization. Almost no case study is directly related to the modification of fluoropolymer via surface graft copolymerizaiton for the improvement of adhesion between two fluoropolymer surfaces, between a fluoropolymer surface and a conjugated polymer surface, or between a fluoropolymer surface and a metal surface. Throughout our exhaustive patent literature search, there is no relevant process which involves the simultaneous modification of a fluoropolymer surface via grafting of graft copolymerization and the simultaneous lamination of a metal in the complete absence of an adhesive.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new method for the low temperature direct lamination of copper metal to fluoropolymer surfaces under atmospheric conditions. It is also an object of the present invention to effect the said lamination in the absence of an added adhesive. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are obtained by providing a method for the modification of fluoropolymer via, first plasma pretreatment, followed by low temperature thermal graft copolymerization of an appropriate functional monomer at the lapped interface between the fluoropolymer and the selected metal. Preferably, a low grafting/lamination temperature is selected to be substantially below the melting or sintering temperature of the fluoropolymer. Desirably, radio frequency argon plasma with low plasma power is selected for the pretreatment of the fluoropolymer to minimize the undesirable over-oxidation, etching or sputtering of the fluoropolymer surface.

The objects and advantages of the present invention can be achieved when the monomers used for surface graft copolymerization with concurrent lamination are selected form a group of vinyl monomers which contain nitrogen heteroatoms or nitrogen functionalities in the pendant group or groups. The monomers are also selected from the family containing multiple vinyl group functionalities, which can also promote chain crosslinking, as well as from the family which contains epoxide functional groups.

The objects and advantages of the present invention can be achieved when the monomer concentrations used for graft copolymerization range from 2 to 100 weight percent. Desirable solvents are selected from the group which provide good solubility for the vinyl monomer, and which promote free radical polymerization.

The objects and advantages of the present invention can be achieved on virtually all fluoropolymer substrates. The maximum objects and advantage are realized on fluoropolymer substrates, such as, but not limited to, poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) and its derivatives, composites and copolymers, including the particulate or fiber reinforced fluoropolymer composites, copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoro(propyl vinyl ether), copolymers of tetetrafluoroethylene and perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole, and copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene and vinyl fluoride, poly(vinyl fluoride), poly(vinylidene fluoride), polychlorotrifluoroethylene, vinyl floride/vinylidene fluoride copolymer, and vinylidene fluoride/hexafluoroethylene copolymer.

The objects and advantages of the present invention are obtained when the metals for lamination are selected from copper and its alloys.

While not wishing to be bound by any theory, it is believed that the present invention is based upon the fact that the functional groups of the covalently tethered polymer chains on the fluoropolymer surface interact through charge transfer interactions with the contacting metal surface to result in strong adhesion between the fluoropolymer and copper metal in the complete absence of an applied adhesive. The lamination temperature in the present invention is thus governed by the optimum temperature for surface graft copolymerization and is substantially below the melting point or the sintering temperature of the fluoropolymer.

In the preferred method, the argon plasma pretreated fluoropolymer surfaces are subjected to thermally induced graft copolymerization with reactive vinyl monomers containing the imidazole, epoxide, cationic, anionic or amphoteric functional groups. The plasma pretreatment are carefully controlled to introduce peroxide and hydroxyl peroxide species on the fluoropolymer surfaces to initiate the subsequent surface graft copolymerization, resulting in covalently tethered functional polymer chains on the fluoropolymer surface. When the surface graft copolymerization is carried out in the presence of a contacting metal surface and when the functional groups of the grafted chains are capable of forming strong charge transfer complexes with the metal, strong adhesion of the metal to the fluoropolymer surface is achieved. Furthermore, the simultaneous grafting and lamination process at the polymer-metal interface is effected by thermal decomposition of the peroxides and hydroxyl peroxides at the fluoropolymer surface. The process can be carried out near the peroxide decomposition temperature, which is usually less than 130° C., and under atmospheric condtions in the complete absence of an added polymerization initiator. In the presence of a strong charge transfer interaction between the grafted functional chains and the metal, the joint delaminates by cohesive failure inside the fluoropolymer.

The preferred application and the best advantages of the present invention are obtained from fluoropolymer films, thin sheets or plates, as well as from copper foils, films, thin sheets or plates. Thus, in the preferred method, the surface of the fluoropolymer is first pretreated with radio frequency gas plasma. The selections of plasma type, plasma power and duration for pretreatment are important. High plasma power and long pretreatment time can result in excessive etching of the polymer surface, in surface crosslinking, and in dehalogenation of the polymer sample. The preferred range of plasma power range of treatment time is typically from 10 W to 50 W. The preferred range of treatment time is typically from 5 s to 120 s, and the preferred frequency is typically in the range of 5 kHz to 50 kHz.

Monomers for the simultaneous graft copolymerization and lamination process are selected from a group of vinyl monomers which readily undergo free-radical initiated polymerization. Desirably, the monomers are selected from the family containing the imidazole, epoxide, anionic, cationic or amphoteric functional groups. The range of monomer concentration used for the grafting/lamination typically range from 2 to 100 weight percent. The preferred solvents include dioxane and water, although other organic solvents may be used.

The following specific examples are provided to illustrate this invention and the manner in which it may be carried out. It will be understood, however, that the specific details given is each example have been selected for purpose of illustration and are not to be construed as a limitation on the invention. Example 1 provides more details on the conduct of the simultaneous surface graft copolymerization and lamination experiment.