  This feature article considers the analysis of the initial states of film
growth on polymer substrates. The assembled results are based on the
cooperation between research groups in the field of plasma physics, chemistry,
electric as well as mechanical engineering over the last years, mostly within
the frame of the transregional project SFB-TR 87 ("Pulsed high power plasmas
for the synthesis of nanostructured functional layers"). This feature article
aims at bridging the gap between the understanding of plasma processes in the
gas phase and the resulting surface and interface processes of the polymer. The
results show that interfacial adhesion and initial film growth can be well
controlled and even predicted based on the combination of analytical
approaches.
