酸功能聚合物与金属的键合大致遵循界面上酸碱反应的预期过程。通过硅烷偶联剂将聚合物与金属结合与酸碱效应、金属氧化物的电离度、氧化物的溶解性或氧化物的任何其他熟悉性质无关。与大多数金属粘合的机理与硅烷与玻璃或二氧化硅的粘合机理相同。似乎确实与金属SI-O-M形成了氧烷键，在水分存在的情况下处于平衡水解和键形成状态。这表明，用于优化聚合物与硅烷处理玻璃的结合的方法也可用于优化聚合物与硅烷处理金属的粘附性。

BONDING ACID-FUNCTIONAL POLYMERS TO METALS FOLLOWS ROUGHLY THE EXPECTED COURSE FOR AN ACID-BASE REACTION ACROSS THE INTERFACE. BONDING POLYMERS TO METALS THROUGH SILANE COUPLING AGENTS DOES NOT CORRELATE TO ACID- BASE EFFECTS, DEGREE OF IONIZATION OF THE METAL OXIDE, SOLUBILITY OF THE OXIDE, OR ANY OTHER FAMILIAR PROPERTY OF OXIDES. THE MECHANISM OF ADHESION TO MOST METALS IS THE SAME AS THE BONDING OF SILANES TO GLASS OR SILICA. THERE APPEARS TO BE TRUE FORMATION OF OXANE BONDS WITH THE METAL, SI-O-M, THAT ARE UNDER EQUILIBRIUM HYDROLYSIS AND BOND FORMATION IN THE PRESENCE OF MOISTURE. THIS SUGGESTS THAT THE METHOD USED TO OPTIMIZE THE BONDING OF POLYMERS TO SILANE-TREATED GLASS CAN ALSO BE USED TO OPTIMIZE THE ADHESION OF POLYMERS TO SILANE-TREATED METALS.