Reading through some of our older posts, I noticed that we received some great feedback on our coverage of Plasma Surface Modification Improves Drone Aerodynamics. A topic that is still timely today. In this instance, our client needed to improve the bond strength on the wing edge of their drones. The end result after plasma treatment was a superior bond adhesion that excelled at resisting wind forces.
Today I wanted to review 3 key benefits of surface modification for all industries.
Plasma surface modification is often described as a low-pressure gas with electricity running through it. It contains ions, free radicals, excited molecules and UV light. When exposed to an energy source such as electricity or microwave, it becomes a mix of ions, free electrons and other types of molecular fragments. The resultant plasma treatment removes all traces of organic contamination.
When properly applied, plasma treatment can:
- Microscopically modify the surface of a polymer substrate to improve mechanical bond strength without altering the haze, transmittance or clarity of the material
- Clean surfaces to improve the surface wetting and adhesion of paints, coatings and markings
- Functionalize groups (carboxyl (HOOC-), carbonyl (-C=O-), hydroxyl (HO- and others) to the polymer substrate to significantly increase the surface energy for bonding; particularly in applications where aqueous-based adhesives require a bond strength that can’t be obtained with conventional cleaning techniques.
Surface modification can benefit industries ranging from medical and biotech, to electronics and even consumer goods. For additional benefits, get your free copy of our Surface Modification technical paper! Or just Ask an Expert for advice!
Dave Biering
