PR: Improving adhesion of coatings, further processing coated components
Painted surfaces often be challenging for the industry. If a coating is equipped with supplementary properties through additives, e.g. for protection against environmental influences, this can impair its adhesion to the surface to be coated. Further processing of painted components, e.g. bonding, is also made more difficult. At these neuralgic points, Plasmatreat GmbH, leading developer and manufacturer of atmospheric plasma technologies and systems, offers efficient and environmentally friendly solutions.
Plasmatreat has developed various solutions for surface treatment with plasma systems and equipment for atmospheric plasma processes (Openair-Plasma). When plasma with its high energy level comes into contact with materials, the surface properties change, e.g. from hydrophobic to hydrophilic. Plasma pretreatment is the key technology for ultra-fine cleaning, surface activation and plasma coating of almost all materials. Plasma is applied to the substrate with pinpoint accuracy using simple "open-air" compressed air and electricity through a special nozzle.
Improving adhesion between coating and substrate
In order for the coatings used in industrial processes to perform additional tasks such as resistance to moisture and contamination or solar radiation, special additives are added to them. However, these reduce adhesion and make environmentally harmful pretreatments of the substrate (sanding, etching, sandblasting, flame treatment, etc.) necessary. In addition, solvent-based adhesion promoters (primers) are often used. Here, pretreatment with Openair-Plasma is an efficient and environmentally friendly alternative for improving adhesion: the site-selective use of the plasma jet modifies the surface properties of the substrate precisely at the points where the paint is to adhere, instead of pretreating the entire surface. Plasma treatment takes place with electricity and compressed air, is even CO2-neutral when green energy is used, and also eliminates the need for environmentally harmful primers. Innovative control and monitoring systems from Plasmatreat ensure good process reproducibility. In addition, the plasma systems can be easily integrated into existing lines.
Durable bonding of painted surfaces
Plasma technology also provides effective support for the bonding of painted components, which has become an increasingly important process in many industrial sectors and requires absolute reliability. Here, too, fine cleaning (e.g. for metal and glass) and activation (e.g. for plastics) with Openair-Plasma results in an increase in surface energy that promotes strong bonding. Reliable bonding of painted surfaces can be achieved with the addition of Plasmatreat's ultra-thin PlasmaPlus nanocoating with PT-Bond, which acts as a kind of environmentally friendly primer.
"Our users include industries such as automotive, aerospace, as well as battery, electronics, watch, toy manufacturers and more. We are happy to provide advice on unresolved issues relating to the further processing of painted surfaces, especially when it comes to bonding," explains Klaus Kresser, Managing Director of Plasmatreat Switzerland AG and Global Market Segment Manager Bonding Applications at Plasmatreat GmbH.
