The surfaces of numerous industrially relevant plastics such as polyolefins (PE, PP, EPDM or PTFE) are so non-polar that they are only insufficiently wetted by paints, printing inks and adhesives. Coatings of bio-organic materials or metals are also often difficult to realize or can only be realized with expensive, special polymer materials.

With low-pressure plasma technology, however, activation or chemical modification of polymer surfaces can be achieved simply and efficiently. This process has already proven itself in numerous industrial applications with regard to the improved processability (bonding, printing, painting, etc.) of polymers.

Plasma activation - for excellent bonding properties in adhesive applications

In order to achieve adhesion to the surfaces of non-polar plastics, polar groups must be created on the surfaces. This leads to an increase in the interfacial energy and thus to an increase in affinity with adhesives, paints, lacquers, etc.

If, in addition, covalent chemical bonds are formed between the substrate and the adhesive or paint, particularly high adhesive strength can be expected. In such a case, for example, the bond only breaks under high mechanical stress and not at the interface, but within one of the composite components.

Low-pressure plasma technology can be used to incorporate polar functional groups into the surface of plastics. Depending on the choice of gases used, oxygen-containing groups such as -OH or nitrogen-containing groups such as -NH2 can be incorporated. This effect is limited to the surfaces; the polymer base body remains unaffected.

Areas of application Plasma activation:

• Automotive and automotive supply industry
• Medical technology
• Electronics industry
• Chip card production
• Plastics processing industry
• Research and development
• Watch industry