Due to their viscoelastic structure polymers bring many challenges when adhesion is considered. Surface modification of polymer is therefore a critical technique to allow good adhesion levels. Whatever the modification of the polymer interface is intended to obtain a polymer-to-polymer adhesion or a polymer-to-inorganic material adhesion some chemical changes are needed at the polymer surface.

The use of diblock copolymers, also called coupling agents, allow two immiscible polymers to be bonded. They are used to create blends of polymers. A well-known technique derived from this coupling agent mechanism is to use a certain amount of chemically modified (also called grafted) polymer chains that will react with the second polymer, creating covalent bonds.

Grafting polymers means chemically modifying the polymer surface to enhance its adhesion. Intermediate chemicals are also used to ease adhesion between polymer and inorganic materials, like glass for composites.