A process for the surface functionalization of a polymeric substrate, which process comprises: a) contacting the substrate with a diarylcarbene precursor, b) generating a carbene reactive intermediate from the diarylcarbene precursor so that it reacts with the substrate to functionalize the surface, and c) further functionalizing the activated substrate obtained in step. The simulation environment executes a first simulation for a simulated processor core. The instrument is calibrated to cancel effects of the backing material out of the instrument response.