SAMPE Journal - September/October 2020 - 27

INTRODUCTION
The automotive industry is undergoing radical
change: With electromobility, autonomous driving,
intelligent sensor systems and lightweight engineering in the spotlight, innovative materials and
complex material combinations are creating new
challenges for manufacturers. Surface treatment
is particularly important in this context, because
careful pretreatment of individual components
and assemblies forms the basis for long-time stable adhesive bonds, optimal paint adhesion and
reliable corrosion protection. The atmospheric
pressure plasma treatment is one of the most efficient methods of cleaning, activating and coating
surfaces.
PLASMA: THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF
MANUFACTURING
"Plasma is generated by harnessing the energy in
gaseous material through the removal of individual
electrons from the electron shell surrounding the
gas atoms. This produces a highly unstable energy level which modifies the surface characteristics
of solid materials. We use this principle to modify
surfaces and material characteristics in a targeted
manner", explains Joachim Schüßler, Sales Director at Plasmatreat, a world market leader in at-

mospheric plasma technology. Pretreatment with
Openair-Plasma significantly increases the adhesion capacity and wettability of surfaces in a precisely adjustable manner. This makes it possible to
use entirely new (even non-polar) materials and
environmentally friendly, solvent-free (VOC-free)
paints and adhesives on an industrial scale.
When the plasma comes into contact with the
surface of the plastic, a "functionalization" takes
place. This is because the excited plasma molecules
and ions have sufficient energy to break the bonds
between the atoms in the plastic polymer chains.
Often these are carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. The radicals released from the broken
bonds react with the excited molecules and ions of
the plasma or with molecules in the ambient air.
This increases both the surface energy and the polarity of the treated surfaces, leading to improved
wettability of the plastic.
PLASMA TECHNOLOGY FOR NEW MOBILITY
AND VEHICLE CONCEPTS
As a long-standing partner of the automotive industry, we have developed pioneering innovations
for more than 100 components which satisfy strict
requirements for process reliability, reproducibility, quality and efficiency and support progress in

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SAMPE Journal - September/October 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SAMPE Journal - September/October 2020