Plasma Treatment for
Promoting Printing, Bonding, Coating and Cleaning
Atmospheric plasma is used to clean, etch and functionalize chemically inert or non-porous surfaces to improve adhesion of inks, coatings and adhesives.
For example, joining of medical plastics is becoming more complex and sophisticated, both in performance specifications and structural complexity. Plasma and flame surface pretreatment promote adhesion of many types of adhesives including those that are light curing. In many cases expensive and hazardous priming agents can be eliminated.
SEBS copolymer rubbers, SEBS/polypropylene blends, TPEs and polypropylenes are emerging as high performance alternatives. TPEs in particular are being employed to replace plasticized, low-durometer PVC in medical device applications, where biocompatibility characteristics are crucial. Pretreatment is often required for adhesive bonding to these polymers.
Other common medical device applications include plasma treatment to: improve bonding of needle hubs and enable ink adhesion on vials, syringes, and IV bags. Cleaning of glass Petri dishes and various metal surfaces are also common.
In addition to the information on this page we invite you download our primer on surface treating for medical plastics.
How plasma treating cleans, etches and functionalizes
Positive ion bombardment facilitates a micro-etching or scrubbing (ablation) effect which removes (desorb) organic and inorganic contaminants from the surface. Without changing the substrate morphology, the system successfully changes the mechanical and chemical properties of a surface. It cleans surfaces and initiates cross-linking effects.
Cleaning: Plasma cleaning involves the removal of organic impurities and contaminates from the surface. During cleaning the plasma species react to the surface resulting in molecular contaminates being decomposed, volatized and vaporized.
Etching: Micro-etching of a polymer surface is accomplished by using charged ions and neutral atoms and radicals in both the plasma forming gas and the reactive processed gas to bombard the surface.
Functionalization: Plasma activation or functionalization is the concurrent process of using radicals and small amounts of UV radiation to break up surface polymer bonds and promote the cross linking of surface molecules. Increased polar groups directly contribute to the adhesion properties of the polymers surface.
Materials Receptive to Plasma Surface Treating
Plasma surface treaters are effective in treating: ABS, ASA, ECTFE, EPD, ETFE, EVA, FEP, HDPE, LCP, LDPE, PBT, PC, PE, PEEK, PEI, PET, PFA, PI, PMMA, PP, PPS, PS, PSU, PTFE, PU, PVC, PVF, TPU TPO XLPE , XLETFE, ECTFE. Plasma surface treaters are also effective at treating glass and conductive surfaces including metal. Flame treaters provide unique treatment capabilities.
Corona, Plasma and Flame Treatment Technology Options
Enercon offers the industry's most extensive selection of corona, plasma, flame and atmospheric plasma surface treating systems on the market today. Surface treating discharge heads can be mounted in a fixed position or integrated with a robot for precise treatment patterns. Below is an overview of our product line-up, for more detailed information visit our website detailing plasma, flame and corona treaters. (Machines for webs of any width are also available.)
Blown-arc air plasma technology is represented by the Dyne-A-Mite HP™. Air plasma is formed by blowing atmospheric air past two high-voltage powered electrodes and is sometimes referred to as corona treatment.
The Dyne-A-Mite IT™ is a blown-ion surface treater. This system pushes pressurized air past a single electrode which discharges inside the treater head. A high velocity stream of charged ions directed toward the substrate treats both conductive and non-conductive systems. The new Dyne-A-Mite IT™ Elite offers multiple treatment heads controlled from a single touch screen interface.
Dyne-A-Flame™ sets new standards for flame plasma performance. The system's advanced combustion control system is expertly paired with PowerFlame™ burner technology for long lasting and uniform treatment.
New Dyne-A-Mite VCP™ blends air with other gases that deposit various chemical groups on substrates to improve surface energy. Variable chemistry plasma treatment is an etching and functionalizing process that provides different surface characteristics depending on the gas chemistry employed.
Improve adhesion with atmospheric plasma treatment
Watch our recent webinar which covers how to use plasma surface modification to improve adhesion. Discover the differences between corona treatment, flame treatment and plasma treatment with video demonstrations of the technologies. This webinar is presented by Rory Wolf author of the book "Plastic Surface Modification: Surface Treatment and Adhesion."
To help you determine which technology is best for your application watch a video overview of Enercon's free laboratory trials.
About Enercon
Enercon Industries Corporation is an international company that services the medical, pharmaceutical, packaging, food, beverage, petroleum, chemical and converting market segments. The company offers leading pretreatment surface technologies including corona, atmospheric plasma and flame treaters. Enercon's line of induction cap sealers provide a hermetic seal which provides tamper-evidence, prevents leaks and preserves freshness.
