SAMPE Journal - September/October 2020 - 30

FEATURE / AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING WITH PL ASMA
Selective Modification of Material
Characteristics
Corrosion protection is not the only application
for PlasmaPlus. By incorporating different coating
materials (precursors), surfaces can be selectively functionalized and given new characteristics in
order to satisfy specific product requirements. The
automotive industry is also harnessing other beneficial effects. For example, nanocoatings with active
adhesion are used in hybrid injection molding to
produce long-time stable rubber-to-metal or plastic-to-metal bonds, while anti-adhesion coatings
create water- and dirt-repellent surfaces (Figure 5).
Sensors, headlights and camera systems also
benefit from PlasmaPlus polymerization. Hydrophobic anti-fog coatings prevent lenses misting
up with water or condensation to ensure optimum
visibility even under extremely damp conditions
(Figure 6). This process will become particularly
important as attention increasingly turns to driver assistance systems and autonomous vehicles,
since sensors are the eyes and ears of the cars of the
future. LiDAR sensors (light detection and ranging) scan their environment with lasers to obtain
detailed information about distances, speeds and
objects. This creates an exact 3D image of the surroundings - the basis for the vehicle navigation system. Clear visibility is absolutely essential to ensure
maximum reliability and safety.
USING PLASMA TO JOIN PREVIOUSLY INCOMPATIBLE MATERIALS
Whether for electronics, battery, chassis, drivetrain, body or interior - plasma treatments have

Figure 5. Automated vehicles navigate using a range of sensors. Anti-fog
coatings from Plasmatreat prevent lenses misting up to ensure optimum visibility even under extremely damp conditions.

Figure 6. The insulating, adhesion-promoting PlasmaPlus coatings from ensure reliable adhesion and a completely tight seal to protect sensors, cameras and electronics from harmful environmental influences

long been an intrinsic part of automotive manufacturing. They create stable
bonds, protect surfaces, facilitate new,
environmentally friendly production
processes and make a major contribution to reducing costs. In fact, they
are often the only technical solution
available for bonding the new materials and complex material blends increasingly used in modern lightweight
construction, to give one example.
Nowadays, for instance, vehicle exterior parts are mainly made from
composite materials such as glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) or plastic-metal composites (Figure 7). These
materials reduce the weight and increase the range of electric vehicles as
well as reducing the fuel consumption
of conventional drive systems. HowevExpert-Tech-Sales-sampe-quarterpage.indd 1

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SAMPE Journal - September/October 2020

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