Collaboration of Plasmatreat and Fraunhofer IFAM
Plasmatreat GmbH and the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM are expanding their collaboration specifically in the field of environmentally friendly coating technologies. The focus is on technology transfer and the rapid industrial implementation of the PFAS-free low-pressure plasma coat-ing systems PLASLON® and UltraPLAS®, which were developed by Fraunhofer IFAM. Plasmatreat contributes its system and application expertise, acts as a contract coater and equipment manufacturer, and thus enables the application of these technologies in various industrial fields.
From laboratory testing through sample and pilot coatings to turnkey production systems, companies receive end-to-end access to the technology. While Fraunhofer IFAM contributes its long-standing expertise in the development, characterization, and optimization of plasma-based surface coatings, Plasmatreat, with its proven experience in the development and man-ufacture of plasma systems, handles scaling and integration into existing production lines, as well as staff training and service provision. In this way, the two partners combine scientific know-how with targeted industrial implementation.
Technology transfer ready for series production for key industries
The collaboration provides companies in the plastics processing, tool and mold making, as well as food, packaging, and medical technology sectors with rapid access to turnkey, envi-ronmentally friendly, PFAS-free non-stick coatings.
“With this partnership, we are opening new opportunities for the industry to efficiently utilize innovative and sustainable, PFAS-free coating technologies. Through targeted technology transfer – from research to series production – we are bringing PLASLON® and UltraPLAS® to where the need exists, thereby enabling our customers to quickly and with low risk adopt the technology,” explains Magnus Buske, Managing Director of Plasmatreat GmbH.
Fraunhofer IFAM also highlights the benefits: “The collaboration combines research and appli-cation at the highest level. Together, we ensure that our PFAS-free developments do not re-main in the lab but are integrated into industrial production as qualified coating systems. “We thus offer complete coating solutions that make production economical and future-proof,” says Dr. Klaus Vissing, project manager at Fraunhofer IFAM.
PLASLON®-technology: Fluorine- and PFAS-free non-stick coating with high temperature resistance
PLASLON® is a functional coating produced in a low-pressure plasma that combines excellent non-stick properties with high temperature and media resistance – all while being fluorine- and PFAS-free. The thin, uniform layers can also be applied to complex geometries and ena-ble:
• a durable, PFAS-free alternative to conventional non-stick systems
• significantly reduced food adhesion due to a low-energy surface
• outstanding coating adhesion with high resistance to under-coating.
The plasma-assisted application does not require volatile organic solvents and enables re-source-efficient, reproducible processes – ideal for companies seeking to combine non-stick performance, PFAS-free properties, and sustainability.
UltraPLAS®-technology: PFAS-free, non-transferring non-stick effect for de-manding plastic processing
UltraPLAS® is an innovative mold coating specifically developed for industrial applications. It is primarily used in thermoplastic and elastomer processing and is designed to significantly re-duce demolding problems, buildup, and cleaning requirements for injection molds. Technical advantages of the UltraPLAS® coating:
• easy demolding and no transfer of coating components to the molded part
• PFAS-free functionality combined with high process reliability
• highest reproduction accuracy, e.g., for high-gloss surfaces
• reduced cleaning intervals, shorter downtime, and increased process stability.
UltraPLAS® thus enables process-reliable, clean, and sustainable applications in plastics pro-cessing and related industries.
A special thanks to Fraunhofer IFAM for their valuable contribution to the creation of this press release.