“On the Ball”: Rotary Plasma Ensures Adhesion in UV Digital Printing

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

“On the Ball”: Rotary Plasma Ensures Adhesion in UV Digital Printing 58 SURFACE TECHNOLOGY Pretreatment [VEHICLE ENGINEERING] [MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY] [PACKAGING] [ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS] [CONSTRUCTION] [CONSUMER GOODS] [LEISURE & SPORTS] [OPTICS] On the Ball Rotary Plasma Ensures Adhesion of UV Digital Print to Free-Form Objects A leading printer manufacturer benefited from using rotary plasma beams to develop a world first. The process involved pretreating three-dimensional objects with atmospheric pressure plasma in the printing unit before they were individually printed. The yellow plasma (right and left of the violet arc) emerges from the high- speed rotary noozle. It cleans and activates the plastic on the equator line which is subsequently printed (© Heidelberger Druckmaschinen) he casing is the most technically chal- which ensures the adhesion of the imprint Printers were already available for flat or Tlenging component of the ball and the and prevents the ink from rubbing off. cylindrical objects such as bottles and imprints on it should be durable. The cas- cans, but round objects could only be ing of modern footballs comprises several Individually Designed Mass Product printed using round screen or pad print- layers or shells; for example, a plastic lami- ing techniques or laminated with films – nate composed of a segmented outer In this digital age, the use of personalized tried and tested methods which are stan- shell of pentagons or hexagons, followed printing now makes it possible to trans- dard practice for high volumes, but un- by layers of foam rubber, latex and textile. form the hallowed ball, though mass-pro- suitable for small volumes and individual These layers are bonded or pressed to- duced, to an individual object of desire. items: Setup times were too high, pro- gether and then applied to the rubber Printer manufacturer Heidelberger Druck- duction and drying times too long, han- bladder. Before the punched segments of maschinen AG (“Heidelberg”) came up dling and logistics uneconomical and the the outer shell are stitched together, the with the idea of developing a print sys- production of films, templates and print- flat plastic is printed with graphic elements tem based on UV inkjet digital printing ing plates too expensive. In addition, sol- (usually screen-printed) or decorated with technology which makes it possible for vent-based primers are often used to pre- laminated foils. In most cases a final coat of the first time to decorate round and free- treat the objects to printed, which are not clear protective plastic is then sprayed on form objects individually in minutes. exactly environmentally friendly. © Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich Kunststoffe international 6-7/2017 © Carl Hanser Verlag, München. Vervielfältigungen, auch auszugsweise, sind ohne Lizenzierung durch den Verlag nicht gestattet. Pretreatment SURFACE TECHNOLOGY 59 Fig. 2. Four-color UV inkjet digital print- ing: The energy-sav- ing UV LED system ensures that inks in the Omnifire cure in a matter of seconds (© Heidelberger Druck- maschinen) seconds to form a solid layer, products no technical reasons to prevent the inte- can be used or reprocessed immediately. gration of a wet-chemical process into Fig. 1. 4D printing process: The Omnifire 250 Footballs in particular require a mechani- the print system, this should be reserved UV digital printer with integrated plasma cally robust, stress-resistant printed im- for such cases where other pretreatment system decorates three-dimensional objects age. The PU outer coating must therefore methods would fail to achieve sufficient up to 300 mm in diameter at the press of a be pretreated to ensure stable adhesion adhesion. button (© Heidelberger Druckmaschinen) of the UV inks, since no further protective The decision was finally made in favor film (such as a coat of clear varnish) is ap- of Plasmatreat’s atmospheric pressure plied to the UV print. plasma technology, which the machine Heidelberg’s 4D printing process (Fig. 1) A corona pretreatment is not suitable manufacturer already knew to be reliable, relies on a laser ultrasonic sensor to mea- for use with all substrates and was devel- having acquired a laboratory unit ten sure the object, which is held in position oped mainly for 2D applications, so this years previously which was still running. by a suction cup. A four-axis robotic con- method was ruled out. The integrated trol system uses the data obtained to po- use of a nano burner would be possible, Rotating Plasma Nozzles sition the object such that surface pre- but it would greatly increase safety efforts treatment, followed by drop-on-demand (e. g. explosion protection). Pretreatment If a banner is to be printed on the equator inkjet application, pinning (intermediate with low-pressure plasma was not con- line of the ball, the ball must turn on its curing of individual colors) and final UV sidered a viable option either, since it own axis throughout the entire pretreat- curing can be carried out fully automati- would not have been possible to fit a sys- ment process. To do this, it is essential cally at precisely defined points Fig.( 2). tem of this kind into the machine and the that the plasma beam impinging on the reduced external pressure would have plastic surface from above activates the It’s all a Matter of Pretreatment expanded the ball. Although there were flat areas and the downward-sloping » The most likely cause for the inability of plastics to be printed, bonded or coated Atmospheric Pressure Plasma effectively, or indeed at all, despite having The Openair plasma process, which is now used in virtually every branch of industry around clean surfaces, is that their surface energy the world, is a dry process that combines the dual effects of microfine cleaning and simulta- is too low. This is the most important neous activation. The plasma is generated inside the nozzle by an atmospheric high-voltage measure for determining probable wett- discharge and transported to the surface of the part being treated in a flow of air. When the ability. Homogenous wetting and an en- plasma hits a plastic surface, groups containing oxygen and nitrogen are incorporated into suing consistent color gradient as well as the mainly non-polar polymer matrix. Plasma activation brings about an increase in surface good adhesion are conditional on the energy, making the substrate polar. Energy-rich radicals, ions, atoms and molecular frag- material surface being ultraclean and the ments present in the plasma release their energy at the surface of the material that is being surface energy of the solid material being treated and thus initiate chemical reactions which bring about this effect. Some of the func- tional hydroxyl, carbonyl and carboxyl groups that arise (as well as the oxygen compounds of higher than the surface tension of the liq- nitrogen) form very strong chemical bonds with the coatings and so help to significantly en- uid coating, be it ink, adhesive or paint. hance adhesion. Unlike water-based and solvent-based During treatment, plastic surfaces are typically heated to below 30 °C. The plasma effect leads inks, which require time-consuming air to homogenous surface wettability – an important consideration for inkjet printing, where drying to evaporate the liquid, with the end result is largely determined by the way in which ink droplets strike the substrate and acrylic- based UV-curing ink cross-linkage spread. Atmospheric pressure plasma is environmentally friendly; since it needs nothing oth- and ensuing polymerization occur imme- er than compressed air and electrical energy, emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) diately after radiation with ultraviolet are avoided from the outset. light. Since the ink cures in a matter of Kunststoffe international 6-7/2017 www.kunststoffe-international.com © Carl Hanser Verlag, München. Vervielfältigungen, auch auszugsweise, sind ohne Lizenzierung durch den Verlag nicht gestattet. 60 SURFACE TECHNOLOGY Pretreatment Fig. 3. Personalized process was associated with a very high in two and a half degree of process reliability, which was of minutes: The utmost importance to Heidelberg. plasma- treated Balleristo range now Practical Test of Print Quality includes virtually all types of sports ball BVD Druck+Verlag AG, a specialist in offset as well as drinks and digital printing and advertising tech- bottles, shin pads nology, was the first company to discover and other non- the 4D printing process for their own pur- round objects poses (Fig. 3). The company initially used a (© balleristo.eu) black printer, but since January 2016 it has also been using a four-color Omnifire 250. The footballs printed in this system are al- most exclusively branded ones. They are supplied with a screen- printed imprint peripheral areas with the same degree of and the plasma input from a nozzle is which the ball manufacturer applies to the intensity. Stationary individual nozzles, therefore slightly weaker. top PU material and then protects with a which only have a relatively small outlet During a three-month test phase, Hei- clear PU film. This uppermost coating has angle, would not achieve the large-area delberg used a Plasmatreat rental unit to now to be printed with UV-curing inks, activation required. However, patented test the effectiveness of plasma pretreat- which must adhere securely of their own rotary nozzles (Title figure) provide uniform ment on different materials. The results accord after curing because they them- activation intensity because the rotation were unequivocal. Not only was there a selves will not be protected by a film. “La- paths on the edge of the treatment field significant increase in adhesive strength boratory tests are indispensable. But only overlap where the distance between the compared with untreated substrates, the the pitch will reveal whether the printed nozzle and the surface is slightly larger quality was altogether higher: The sharp- imagery on footballs can withstand the ness and color brilliance of the printed im- rigors of the game or whether it flakes off”, The Author age itself improved.
Recommended publications
  • Proceedings Of
    Research Article – IJAAT – 2017 – 32 International Journal of Advances on Automotive and Technology http://dx.doi.org/10.15659/ijaat.17.09.524 Promech Corp. Press, Istanbul, Turkey Manuscript Received March 20, 2017; Accepted August 10, 2017 Vol.1, No. 4, pp. 212-216, October, 2017 This paper was recommended for publication in revised form by Co-Editor Yasin Karagoz EFFECT OF PLASMA TREATMENT ON WETTABILITY PROPERTIES OF THE ELECTROPHORETIC COATING (E-COAT) ON STEEL AUTOMOTIVE PARTS *Ekrem Altuncu Fatih Kurtuldu Sakarya University, Techonology Faculty, Sakarya University, Technology Faculty Dept. of Metallurgy and Materials Eng. Dept. of Metallurgy and Materials Eng. Serdivan, Sakarya, Turkey Serdivan, Sakarya, Turkey Keywords: E-coat, Plasma Treatment, Surface, Contact Angle * Corresponding author: Phone: 0264 295 7217 E-mail address: [email protected] ABSTRACT electrophoretic coating (e-coat) on steel automotive parts are investigated. Different plasma surface treatment parameters as Today, e-coatings or powder paintings are considered as an distance, velocity, pass number are employed on e-coated important market and play a major role in automotive industry. surfaces and measured their water contact angle. And also They not only impart decorative and a pleasant appeal to car experimental results are compared with wetting properties of bodies, also protect them against degrading environmental the powder coated and plasma treated surfaces. effects. Their use extends from metallic parts to polymeric based vehicle components both as exterior and interior types. INTRODUCTION Two main goals are envisaged when coatings are applied to substrates. The first involves protecting the substrate against The automotive industry is one of the most important users various aggressive environmental agents (such as UV, humidity of modern surface technologies.
    [Show full text]
  • Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Activation of Polymers and Composites for Adhesive Bonding: a Critical Review
    Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Activation of Polymers and Composites for Adhesive Bonding: A Critical Review Thomas S. Williams, Hang Yu and Robert F. Hicks* University of California at Los Angeles, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Boelter Hall Room 5531, Los Angeles, California 90095-1592 Abstract: A review is presented on the surface preparation of polymers and composites using atmospheric pressure plasmas. This is a promising technique for replacing traditional methods of surface preparation by abrasion. With suffi cient exposure to the plasma afterglow, polymer and composite surfaces are fully activated such that when bonded and cured with epoxy adhesives, they undergo 100% cohesive failure in the adhesive. Depending on the material, the lap shear strength and crack delamination resistance (GIC) can be increased several fold over that achieved by either solvent wiping or abrasion. In some cases, a plasma-responsive layer must be incorporated into the top resin layer of the composite to achieve maximum bond strength to the adhesive. Adhesion does not correlate well with water contact angle or surface roughness. Instead it correlates with the fraction of the polymer surface sites that are oxidized and converted into active functional groups, as determined by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy. Keywords: Polymer, composite, epoxy, adhesion, bonding, atmospheric plasma, plasma activation 1 Introduction The strength of bonded joints is of great concern to the aerospace, automotive, medical device, and electronics industries [1]. Atmospheric pressure plasma acti- vation is rapidly gaining acceptance as a desirable method of surface preparation prior to bonding [1]. This technique provides an alternative to traditional methods of surface preparation by wet chemical cleaning and mechanical abrasion [1, 2].
    [Show full text]
  • Plasma Polymerization and Its Applications in Textiles
    Indian 10urnalof Fibre & Textile Research Vo1.31, March 2006, pp. 99-115 Plasma polymerization and its applications in textiles Dirk Hegemann" EMPA - Materials Science & Technology, Functional Fibers and Textiles, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014 St.Gallen, Switzerland Plasma polymerization enables the deposition of thin coatings on all kinds of substrates using electrical monomer discharges. This paper reviews plasma polymerization processes as surface modification (finishing) for textile applications. The dry and ecofriendly plasma technology aims at replacing wet-chemical process steps and adding new values to textile products. Characteristics of hydrocarbon, organosilicon, fluorocarbon, hydrophilic functional, monofunctional and ceramic coatings have been discussed to demonstrate their potential for textiles and fibers. Plasma technology requires adequate reactors for the continuous treatment of fabrics and fibers. To enable the optimization of plasma polymerization on batch reactors, questions of up-scaling are addressed to demonstrate the transfer to an industrial level. Both atmospheric and low pressure plasmas are considered regarding their effectiveness and efficiency. Examples for applications in textiles, such as hydrophobic, oleophobic and permanent hydrophilic treatments, have also been reported. Keywords: Fluorocarbon coating, Hydrocarbon coating, Hydrophobic treatment, Hydrophilic treatment, Oleophobic treatment, Plasma polymerization 8 IPC Code: Int. CI. D06M 10100, H05H 1 Introduction the main part of the plasma-activated gas remains The challenges the European textile industry is close to room temperature. The electrons, however, facing today are enormous. Therefore, the need for a gain just the right energies to excite, dissociate and reorientation is strong. In order to survive, the ionize atoms and molecules. The degree of ionization European textile industry is taking the transition typically lies between lOA and 10-6.
    [Show full text]
  • The Use of DBD Plasma Treatment and Polymerization for the Enhancement of Biomedical UHMWPE
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Ghent University Academic Bibliography The use of DBD plasma treatment and polymerization for the enhancement of biomedical UHMWPE By Pieter Cools, Stijn Van Vrekhem, Nathalie De Geyter and Rino Morent P. Cools, Dr. N. De Geyter, Prof. Dr. R. Morent Research Unit Plasma Technology (RUPT), Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Engineering, Ghent University, St-Pietersnieuwstraat 41 B4, Ghent, 9000, Belgium E-mail: [email protected] Tel: +32 9 264 38 38 1 The use of DBD plasma treatment and polymerization for the enhancement of biomedical UHMWPE Pieter Cools*, Stijn Van Vrekhem, Nathalie De Geyter, Rino Morent P. Cools, S. Van Vrekhem, Dr. N. De Geyter, Prof. Dr. R. Morent Research Unit Plasma Technology (RUPT), Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Engineering, Ghent University, St-Pietersnieuwstraat 41 B4, Ghent, 9000, Belgium E-mail: [email protected] Abstract Surface modification of polymers for biomedical applications is a thoroughly studied area. The goal of this paper is to show the use of atmospheric pressure plasma technology for the treatment of polyethylene shoulder implants. Atmospheric pressure plasma polymerization of methyl methacrylate will be performed on PE samples to increase the adhesion between the polymer and a PMMA bone cement. For the plasma polymerization, a dielectric barrier discharge is used, operating in a helium atmosphere at ambient pressure. Parameters such as treatment time, monomer gas flow and discharge power are varied one at a time. Chemical and physical changes at the sample surface are studied making use of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy measurements.
    [Show full text]
  • (Glass/PP) and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Surfaces by Open Air Plasma Treatment
    University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Masters Theses Graduate School 12-2017 Improving the Adhesion of Glass/Polypropylene (Glass/PP) and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Surfaces by Open Air Plasma Treatment Vidyarani Sangnal Matt Durandhara Murthy University of Tennessee Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes Recommended Citation Sangnal Matt Durandhara Murthy, Vidyarani, "Improving the Adhesion of Glass/Polypropylene (Glass/PP) and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Surfaces by Open Air Plasma Treatment. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 2017. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/4999 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a thesis written by Vidyarani Sangnal Matt Durandhara Murthy entitled "Improving the Adhesion of Glass/Polypropylene (Glass/PP) and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Surfaces by Open Air Plasma Treatment." I have examined the final electronic copy of this thesis for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, with a major in Mechanical Engineering. Uday Vaidya, Major Professor We have read this thesis and recommend
    [Show full text]
  • Surface Modification of Polymer Substrates for Biomedical
    materials Review Surface Modification of Polymer Substrates for Biomedical Applications OldˇrichNedˇela,Petr Slepiˇcka* and Václav Švorˇcík Department of Solid State Engineering, University of Chemistry and Technology, 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic; [email protected] (O.N.); [email protected] (V.Š.) * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +420-220-44-5163 Received: 10 August 2017; Accepted: 18 September 2017; Published: 21 September 2017 Abstract: While polymers are widely utilized materials in the biomedical industry, they are rarely used in an unmodified state. Some kind of a surface treatment is often necessary to achieve properties suitable for specific applications. There are multiple methods of surface treatment, each with their own pros and cons, such as plasma and laser treatment, UV lamp modification, etching, grafting, metallization, ion sputtering and others. An appropriate treatment can change the physico-chemical properties of the surface of a polymer in a way that makes it attractive for a variety of biological compounds, or, on the contrary, makes the polymer exhibit antibacterial or cytotoxic properties, thus making the polymer usable in a variety of biomedical applications. This review examines four popular methods of polymer surface modification: laser treatment, ion implantation, plasma treatment and nanoparticle grafting. Surface treatment-induced changes of the physico-chemical properties, morphology, chemical composition and biocompatibility of a variety of polymer substrates are studied. Relevant biological methods are used to determine the influence of various surface treatments and grafting processes on the biocompatibility of the new surfaces—mammalian cell adhesion and proliferation is studied as well as other potential applications of the surface-treated polymer substrates in the biomedical industry.
    [Show full text]
  • Environmentally Friendly Plasma Activation of Acrylonitrile–Butadiene–Styrene and Polydimethylsiloxane Surfaces to Improve Paint Adhesion
    Article Environmentally Friendly Plasma Activation of Acrylonitrile–Butadiene–Styrene and Polydimethylsiloxane Surfaces to Improve Paint Adhesion Miguel Angel Martinez *, Juana Abenojar and Sara Lopez de Armentia Department of Materials Science and Engineering (IAAB), Universidad Carlos III of Madrid, Av. Universidad 30, 28911 Leganés, Spain; [email protected] (J.A.); [email protected] (S.L.d.A.) * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +34-91-624-9401 Received: 17 October 2018; Accepted: 26 November 2018; Published: 26 November 2018 Abstract: Generally, polymeric materials present an issue related to their low surface energy: low painting ability. The main aim of this work is to improve the adhesion between polymeric surfaces (polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)) and paints (epoxy (EP), and polyurethane (PU)-based). In order to increase adhesion, hydrophilic modification of surfaces by atmospheric pressure plasma torch treatment (APPT) was proposed. Furthermore, it can permit dissimilar joints, i.e., ABS with a metal joined by a silicone (based PDMS), to be painted. The surface modifications were characterized by measurements of surface energy and roughness. In addition, the effectiveness of the pre-treatment on improving paint adhesion was confirmed by scratch, cross-cut, and adhesion tests. Results showed the possibility of coating both ABS and PDMS with a PU-based paint when treated with plasma. As a novel result, polymer and metal panels joined by silicone were able to be painted with the PU paint. Keywords: polydimethylsiloxane; acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene; atmospheric pressure plasma torch; epoxy paint; polyurethane paint; adhesion tests 1. Introduction Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymers are widely used, as they offer excellent intrinsic properties such as lightweight, high strength or chemical resistance, among others.
    [Show full text]
  • Low-Frequency Plasma Activation of Nylon 6
    Applied Surface Science 544 (2021) 148929 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Applied Surface Science journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/apsusc Full Length Article Low-frequency plasma activation of nylon 6 Richard Thompson a, David Austin b, Chun Wang c, Anne Neville c, Long Lin a,* a Department of Color Science, School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK b School of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK c Institute of Functional Surfaces, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Keywords: In the study reported in this paper, a series of reproducible conditions were employed to uniformly functionalize Plasma nylon 6 surfaces using a commercially available, low-frequency (40 kHz), low-pressure plasma system, utilizing Plasma activation oxygen plasma as a reactive gas. Initially, the plasma-treated samples were investigated using static contact angle Surface modification measurements, showing a progressive increase in wettability with increasing plasma activation time between 10 Surface functionalization and 40 s. Such an increase in wettability (and therefore increase in adhesive capabilities of the surfaces) was attributed to the creation of surface C-OH, C=O, and COOH groups. These surface-chemical modifications were characterized using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and static secondary ion mass spectrometry (SSIMS). Surface radical densities were also shown to increase following plasma activation, having been quantifiedusing a radical scavenging method based on the molecule 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The samples were imaged and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), to confirm that there had been no detectable alteration to the surface roughness or morphology.
    [Show full text]
  • Atmospheric Pressure Plasma As a Method for Improving Adhesive Bonding Authors THOMAS S
    TP14PUB43 Atmospheric Pressure Plasma as a Method for Improving Adhesive Bonding authors THOMAS S. WILLIAMS, HANG YU, RICHIE WOO, MIKHAIL GRIGORIEV, DICK CHENG, and ROBERT F. HICKS Aerospace Materials Processing LLC Redondo Beach, CA abstract Atmospheric pressure plasma treatment is an alternative surface preparation method for plastics and organic matrix composites prior to structural adhesive bonding. The atmospheric pressure plasmas are a promising technique for replacing traditional methods of surface preparation such as manual sanding, grit blasting, peel ply, or wet chemistry. All surfaces studied were converted from a hydrophobic state into a hydrophilic state with a water contact angle of <40°. Atomic force microscopy confirmed that plasma activation resulted in only minor changes to the composite surface structure. Characterization of the composite surfaces by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed an increase in oxygen content following plasma treatment. Lap shear testing showed that after plasma activation, the strength can be increased from ~50% up to several-fold over that achieved by either solvent wiping or abrasion depending on the material used. terms Plasma treatment, Surface preparation, Adhesive bonding, Plastics, Matrix composites conference Composites Manufacturing 2014 SME April 8-10, 2014 Covington, KY SME TECHNICAL PAPERS This Technical Paper may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without the express written permission of SME. By publishing this paper, SME neither endorses any product, service or information discussed herein, nor offers any technical advice. SME specifically disclaims any warranty of reliability or safety of any of the information contained herein. SME Technical Paper TP14PUB43 ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE PLASMA AS A METHOD FOR IMPROVING ADHESIVE BONDING Thomas S.
    [Show full text]
  • Openair® Plasma Technology Surface Treatment for Sustainable Production Processes
    Openair® Plasma Technology Surface treatment for sustainable production processes. 2 | 3 Plasmatreat, the company 4 | 5 Sustainability Plasma instead of chemicals 6 | 7 What is plasma? 16 | 17 Life Sciences 18 | 19 Renewable energies Applications 20 | 21 Sport and leisure 8 | 9 Automotive and aerospace industries 22 | 23 Transport 10 | 11 Electronics and communication 12 | 13 Consumer goods and packaging 24 | 25 Global responsibility 14 | 15 House and home 26 | 27 Plasmatreat worldwide 2 Contents Welcome to the world of Openair® plasma Only by looking to the future will you be able to shape it. The Plasmatreat company The development of plasma processes has extremely efficient use of energy and in many been at the core of our business since 1995. cases, shortening production processes. With headquarters in Germany, technology Whether used in-line, as with atmospheric centers in the USA, China and Japan and nu- Openair® technology, or in a low-pressure merous sales offices throughout the world, process, plasma represents a groundbreaking at Plasmatreat, we have an international approach to the use of materials. Cleaning, presence wherever there is a demand for our activation and coating expand the potential experience and expertise in the field of custo- fields of application, thereby facilitating mized surface treatments. closed-loop cycles. As a key technology, plasma surface treatment Close cooperation with leading research is used in virtually every sector of industry. institutes and industry partners is a hallmark of Plasma surface treatments make production Plasmatreat‘s innovative spirit. Tougher require- processes more sustainable and environmen- ments arising from new industry standards, tally friendly by preventing waste, making stringent demands for environmentally friendly and reliable processes and customized solu- tions for specific manufacturing processes are typical of the challenges that our customers present us with.
    [Show full text]
  • Adhesion Imrovement with Plasma Surface Activation Between Aluminum Alloy Plates
    ©2020 Published in 8th International Symposium on Innovative Technologies in Engineering and Science 23-25 October 2020 (ISITES2020 Bursa - Turkey) https://doi.org/10.33793/acperpro.03.01.77 Adhesion Imrovement with Plasma Surface Activation Between Aluminum Alloy Plates *1Ekrem Altuncu, 1Ayyuce Tecir and 2Onur Birbaşar *1 Sakarya University of Applied Sciences, Materials and Manufac.Tech. App. Research Center-SUMAR,Sakarya, Turkey 2 Assan Aluminum R&D Center, Kocaeli, Turkey Abstract Aluminum alloys are advantageous light metals in many respects. In the use of these alloys in the ship, aviation and automotive industries, bonding applications rather than welded joints or mechanical connections are preferred. Improving adhesion properties with various surface treatments applied to aluminum alloys is an important issue. Adhesive type, front surface treatments and surface activation techniques control adhesion strength. In this study, the effect of plasma surface treatment technology on adhesion strength was examined in detail. The water drop wetting ability of the alloys were examined, and then adhesion properties were compared with adhesion tests. It has been determined that plasma technology significantly increases the adhesion strength. Key words: Aluminum alloys, Adhesion, Surface Treatment, Plasma activation 1. Introduction Aluminium-Magnesium alloys have excellent corrosion resistance especially to seawater and industrially polluted atmospheres. EN AW 5754 finds use in almost every field of the industry due to its combination of many features such as very good welding ability, excellent corrosion resistance, superior cold forming, and very good anodizing ability. To endure critical conditions in aeronautic or marine applications some chemical processes, such as, conversion coatings, anodizing and chromatization are often applied as pre-treatment for Al alloys to improve corrosion resistance and enhance adhesion properties [1].
    [Show full text]
  • The Plasma Pretreatment of Plastics
    plasma electronic 6UCK i!!: TECHNOLOGIEN *I! *- 3 THE PLASMA PRETREATMENT . OF PLASTICS c . The plasma pretreatment of plastics 1. lntroduction A method of obtaining adherent compound structures which is more environment-friendly and operationally safe than conventional processes is the use of low-temperature plasmas. By contrast with conventional methods, these open up new possibilities for pretreatment as a means of promoting adhesion. - Grease, oil, wax and even silicons can be removed leaving no residues whatsoever. - Plastic surfaces can be roughened without harming the material or the use of aggressive chemical baths. - The wetting capability of homopolar plastics with adhesives, paints, printing inks, etc. can be radically improved. - Poorly defined surfaces can be given a very fine coating of primer. In the process, the workpieces undergoing treatment are exposed for a few seconds or mi- nutes to a "cold" plasma which is produced in a vacuum chamber by applying an electrical voltage to the respective process gas. The gaseous phase of the process is easy to monitor and control, and even workpieces of extremely complicated shapes can be treated. Since the reaction medium is heavily diluted, only relatively small quantities of chemicals are used, normally non-hazardous gases such as oxygen, argon, helium, ethylene or tetra- fluoromethane. Furthermore, since these are used in sealed chambers, no hazardous gases or fumes are produced at the workstation. By selecting the appropriate gas and adjusting the plant parameters accordingly, processes can be tailor-made to meet the specific application of the user. Some examples, taken hainly from the electrical and automotive industries, which describe the plasma process and its economical incorporation in the production sequence are given below.
    [Show full text]