Plasma Adhesion Treatment and Challenges of Preparing Polymer Surfaces

Plasma Adhesion Treatment and Challenges of Preparing Polymer Surfaces Polymers have many industrial application processes because of the chemical and mechanical properties that they have. They are affordable, lightweight and can be changed into different shapes. The Polymers need to be prepared before they can be used for various industrial applications. The surface of the polymer creates problems that need to be eliminated before the material can be used.

Preparation of the Polymer's Surface

The Polymer needs further treatment done on its surface in order to ensure that the surface is suitable for scratch resistance, biocompatibility, friction and adhesion. Plasma adhesion treatment is one of the best methods that the manufacturer can use, in order to ensure that the surface preparation is done efficiently and at minimal costs. Get to know more about Plasma coating by visiting Plasma Coating and Hvof Thermal Spray Coating .

There are however challenges that will be encountered when trying to prepare the surface using any of the available technologies. One of the challenges

encountered is when the surface is degraded to the point where the quality of the material changes, such that it may no longer be suitable for the initial application it was meant for. Plasma treatment and other forms of treatment may cause the degrading of the material if it is applied using unsuitable levels of pressure. The ions collide with the surface so rapidly that they cause its modification.

Challenges with Treating Surfaces

Another problem is what is referred to as aging. Aging happens when the surface of the polymer is treated and the level of treatment causes reactions in future.

The material may not be degraded but the surface remains reactive and may cause changes in future which will affect some of its qualities and even shorten the lifespan of the product. Get to know more about Adhesion then click here.

Different types of Polymers have varying qualities and will react differently when plasma is applied on them. The manufacturer of polymer products wishing to apply plasma technology to treat them and improve wet ability and other surface

qualities needs to know the material he is using and how it reacts with high or low pressure plasma.

Polymers and Etching

Undesirable etching effects may be seen when the application of the treatment is done using the wrong technology and the wrong levels of intensity of the plasma technology. The active species of ions used for the process could affect etching and the level of its negative effects. The intensity of the ion bombardment and the temperature of the operating surface will also affect the process. The operator needs to be aware of all these variables in order to ensure that the process is done right.

When trying to optimize the preparation of surfaces the optimal intensity for various polymers must be found. Polymers such as PET are more degradable than C-H polymers. The understanding of the quality of the materials helps to determine the best plasma adhesion treatment that ought to be done for specific materials.

The optimum level of intensity will be the point where the surface is prepared to the highest level of quality, while not exceeding the required intensity of the ions unnecessarily. Experiments can be done to determine the best specifications needed for wet-ability and surface treatment