Plasma Surface Engineering Solutions for Advanced Composites to Be Featured at SAMPE 2026
Seattle, WA — April 2026 — Plasmatreat will showcase advanced plasma surface engineering technologies at SAMPE 2026, highlighting solutions that enable stronger, lighter, and more durable composite structures for aerospace manufacturing. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore both the company’s latest technical developments and production-ready systems designed for high-performance composite applications.
Exhibiting at Booth K36 (Summit Exhibit Level, Halls 1–2), Plasmatreat will highlight a range of plasma-based processes designed to address critical challenges in composite bonding, coating, and large-scale manufacturing. Attendees will gain insight into how these technologies are being deployed in real-world aerospace applications.
A key focus at the booth will be composite-to-metal bonding, where Openair-Plasma® treatment enables reliable adhesion without the drawbacks of traditional surface preparation methods. By increasing surface free energy and introducing functional groups, plasma processes support strong covalent bonding while avoiding fiber damage and reducing the risk of galvanic corrosion at the interface.
The exhibit will also emphasize scalable, high-throughput surface treatment solutions engineered for integration into automated production lines. These systems enable uniform activation across large or complex composite surfaces in a single pass, eliminating the need for mechanical abrasion or chemical primers while reducing cycle times and operational costs.
For components with intricate geometries, Plasmatreat’s Aurora LC, low-pressure plasma system will be highlighted as a solution for achieving consistent, all-over treatment. This approach ensures complete surface activation—even in deep gaps and enclosed features—supporting reliable bonding and coating performance in demanding aerospace components such as turbine structures and airframe assemblies.
In addition, plasma technologies for pre-paint and pre-coating surface preparation will be featured, demonstrating how controlled surface modification improves coating adhesion, durability, and long-term environmental resistance.
Technical Presentation: High-Performance Composite Bonding
Complementing the exhibit, Plasmatreat will deliver a technical presentation titled “Advances in Plasma Surface Engineering for High-Performance Composite Bonding” during SAMPE 2026. The session will take place on Thursday, April 30, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. as part of the Joining & Bonding Technologies track.
The presentation will explore how plasma treatments enhance the fiber-matrix interface in carbon fiber reinforced composites (CFRC), including high-performance materials such as polyether ether ketone (PEEK).
The presentation will also compare solvent-based cleaning with atmospheric and vacuum plasma approaches, demonstrating their effectiveness in removing mold release residues and improving adhesion. Surface analysis using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and water contact angle measurements confirm the creation of adhesion-promoting chemistries.
Further discussion will include the use of plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) to apply nanoscale coatings that function as primer alternatives. Mechanical testing results show improved adhesive strength, underscoring the potential of plasma technologies to enhance both performance and manufacturing efficiency.
With composite materials playing an increasingly central role in modern aircraft, these plasma-based solutions offer a practical path to improving bond reliability, reducing environmental impact, and enabling next-generation lightweight structures.
Attendees are invited to visit Booth K36 to learn more about how plasma surface engineering is advancing aerospace manufacturing.
