Use our plasma system for adhesion improvement
When plasma is used to functionalize a surface prior to bonding, the resulting bonds will display a strong adhesion improvement. Plasma can be used on a wide variety of materials: metals, glass, ceramics, and even natural materials such as woods and textiles respond very well to plasma functionalization. For several our customers, it is especially important that many polymers with typically “non-stick” surfaces can be successfully glued and bonded following plasma treatment.
This surface functionalization achieved by plasma processing relies on a combination of effects: ultra-fine surface cleaning from organic contaminants, modification of the surface topography, modification of the crystalline structure of the surface layer, and deposition of functional chemical groups. Metals can be cleaned of hard oxides, restoring the sheer metal surface.
The atmospheric pressure of our plasma systems is generated using air or typical industrial gases such as hydrogen, nitrogen or oxygen. For our customers, this means a huge improvement regarding cost-efficiency, process safety and environmental compatibility, as expensive vacuuming equipment or wet chemistry are simply no longer necessary. Fast processing speeds make our system suitable for a wide variety of industrial applications.
The table below shows a comparison of the pull off strength of bonding untreated plastics and the same plastics with previous plasma treatment with 2K epoxy adhesive. The comparison shows a significant improvement of the bonding:
Advantages of plasma processing
Plasma cleans, strengthens and chemically functionalizes the surface. All these effects, which are required for improved adhesive bonding, are achieved simultaneously in a single step:
- Ultra-fine cleaning, no residues
- Gentle, non-destructive surface treatment
- No wet chemistry
- Air or cheap non-toxic working gases
- Environmental friendliness
- No expensive vacuum equipment
- Fast processing speeds
- Easy integration into existing production lines
Field of applications
Case Study: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
The Case Study of KIT describes the Fabrication of Elastic and Chemically Inert Gaskets Made of PTFE and PDMS Films with piezobrush® PZ3
Customer reference
KIOTO Photovoltaics GmbH from St. Veit in Austria has been using plasma in solar technology for years. Here, the plasma high-performance system plasmabrush® PB3 is integrated into the automated system for surface pre-treatment before bonding.
Customer reference: Network Group
By replacing chemicals through plasma the process of bonding optical fibers and aluminum components can be improved.
Case Study: Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences
Osnabrück University about the physicochemical characterization and bonding of plasma-modified polyetheretherketone for dental applications
Case Study INNOVENT e.V.
In the beta test phase Oliver Beier and Andreas Pfuch of INNOVENT e.V. Technologieentwicklung in Jena have investigated the plasma activation of various plastics after treatment with the piezobrush® PZ3 and the module “Standard”.
Adhesive joints between silicone and plastic
The piezobrush® PZ2 is used at Rimkus Medizintechnik to guarantee secure adhesive joints between silicone and plastic.
Bonding of polypropylene
Bonding of polypropylene (PP) in medical technology production is often of insufficient quality, therefore plasma is used for quality assurance at IKA Group.
Plasma activation of CFRP and glass
The Max Planck Institute for Astronomy uses the piezobrush PZ2 for plasma activation of CFRP and glass/glass ceramic adhesive surfaces.
Plasma in microfluidics
Sabine Schmidt from ISAT at Coburg University reports on the use of plasma in microfluidics to achieve a connection between PDMS and glass substrate.
Customer Reference: ACT – Animal Care Technologies GmbH
Professional adhesive joints are also possible without large investments by using the piezobrush PZ2. ACT in the field report.
Increase your adhesion and at the same time your customer satisfaction by pre-treating with plasma.
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