Atmospheric plasma activation

…Optimum adhesion on every surface

The activation of inorganic or plastic surfaces is an essential process in industry. It is often necessary to activate surfaces prior to coating, varnishing or laminating. With organic surfaces, this happens through oxygen functionalization, while inorganic surfaces need to be perfectly cleaned of organic residue.

With polymers or composite materials, atmospheric pressure plasma will often be the most efficient way to achieve activation, while at the same time saving cost when used with compressed air. This method is compatible with virtually every serial process. Wet-chemical primers can be left out completely, and so atmospheric plasma functionalization is exceedingly gentle both to the environment and to the materials treated. One single process step guarantees ultrafine cleaning, balancing of static surface charges and functionalization.

No more corrosive primers, no more solvents needed!

Bonding

Optimized adhesive bonding using atmospheric plasma

Plastics are usually characterized by an inert surface with surface energies of 20 to 40 mN/m.

In order to wet a surface, the surface energy of the polymer has to exceed that of the ink or adhesive. This can be attained by treating the surface with plasma and is called “activation” in plasma technology.

Even more important than improved wettability are the bonds that are formed between the surface and the applied chemical groups. This effect occurs in plastics and is called surface functionalization. Plasma treatment produces chemical reactions between the gas species and the surface, increasing wettability and adhesion.