Construction that bonds and seals
Preparing materials before bonding, sealing and the application of coatings and sealants.
The surface challenge
A sealant that peels off, a coating that will not hold on a plastic profile: on site as in the factory, adhesion to modern materials becomes a problem as soon as the surface is too smooth or too low in energy.
Plasma activates these surfaces before application, for durable grip of sealants, adhesives and coatings.
What plasma changes
| Indicator | Before | After plasma | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface energy — PVC | 38 mN/m | 45 to 70 mN/m | Test inks |
| Peel strength | [x] | [x] | T-peel (ASTM D1876) |
| Contact angle (water) | 90 to 105° (polyolefins) | 35 to 70° depending on exposure | Goniometer, sessile drop |
| Effect retention | — | near-logarithmic decay; still hydrophilic at 7 days | Controlled ageing |
| Pass speed | — | 6 to 120 m/min per source | Configuration to be validated |
Documented order-of-magnitude figures, not our own measurements: pre-treatment values come from the Accu Dyne Test reference tables, post-treatment values from the atmospheric plasma literature. They place the process — they still depend on the substrate, its geometry and the line speed. A trial on your own part gives you your own numbers. Have my material measured.
What plasma changes
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01
Sealant adhesion
Seals that hold up over time.
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02
Bonding preparation
Reliable grip on profiles and panels.
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03
Coating adhesion
Fix technical coatings and paints in place.
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04
Surface wettability
Uniform spreading of liquid products.
From your sample to your line
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01
Characterisation
You send us a sample. We measure its starting surface energy and identify what is blocking adhesion: contamination, release agent, non-polar polymer.
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02
Parameter trial
We vary power, pass speed, nozzle-to-substrate distance and gas until the target effect is reached, and record the parameters that got us there.
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03
Validation
We check the result with the test that matters to you — adhesion, sealing, wetting — and document how long the effect holds on your material.
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04
Integration
Inline, on profiles or panels running continuously, or at a station before workshop bonding.
Activation or deposition: what each one holds over time. The detailed comparison.
What plasma does, in detail
The right equipment for this sector
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Wide-web plasma curtain
Profiles and panels running continuously, across the full width.
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Compact plasma torch
Local activation before bonding or gasket application.
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Surface energy test inks
Quick workshop checking, with no laboratory equipment.
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The final choice is made on your part and your cadence, not from a catalogue. All equipment, sorted by the problem it solves.
Frequently treated materials
This list is indicative. The vast majority of polymers, metals, glasses and composites can be treated with DBD plasma. The best way to confirm your case is to send us a description of your part and your objective. For the hardware, see the plasma equipment sorted by the problem it solves.
What we get asked — Construction
How long does the treatment effect last?
Activation is not permanent: surface energy decays after treatment, faster on mobile polymers and in warm storage. That is why plasma is placed immediately before the step it serves — printing, bonding, sealing. The decay rate is measurable, and we document it on your material during the trial.
Does plasma replace corona treatment?
Both raise surface energy, but not under the same conditions. Corona suits flat film running over a roller. Atmospheric DBD plasma also treats three-dimensional geometries, hollow parts and non-conductive surfaces, with a uniformity that does not depend on holding a constant air gap. On your part, the answer is settled by comparison, not by principle.
Does the treatment change the part's appearance or dimensions?
No. Plasma acts on the first few nanometres of the surface: mass, dimensions and bulk mechanical properties are unchanged. On heat-sensitive substrates, parameters are adjusted to avoid any marking, and that is one of the things checked at the validation stage.
Are chemicals or a drying step required?
No. The treatment runs on electricity and process gas, with no primer, no solvent and no drying time. That is what lets it sit inside a line without lengthening the cycle, and what removes a hazardous-goods handling station.
Can it be retrofitted to an existing line?
That is the most common case. The treatment installs inline, at production speed. Three things need checking: the space available at the useful point, the electrical and gas connections, and extraction. Those three are what the integration stage covers.
Does the effect survive outdoor conditions?
Two things need separating. Surface activation is temporary by nature and exists to make the bond or the paint work; once the assembly is made, what matters is the joint's durability, not the activation's. If you need a lasting function exposed to weather, that calls for a thin-film deposit, not an activation.
The selection guide
Atmospheric or vacuum? The question comes up on every project, and it is settled on three concrete criteria — not on a preference for one process.
- Both architectures, what each one can do and what it costs
- Three deciding criteria: part geometry, robotic integration, cycle time
- A grid to fill in so you can defend the choice to an investment committee
Guide being written — leave your email and you will get it on release.
In the meantime, the article comparing both architectures : The detailed comparison.
Related sectors
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Automotive
The adhesive bead on filled polymer, in high volume.
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Aerospace
Structural bonding on composite, with the traceability that comes with it.
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Defence
Same composites, with qualification demands on top.
What you send, what you get back
- You send
- [x] samples of your part or film, [x] minimum size.
- You receive
- surface energy values before and after, one treated sample, and a written record of the parameters used.
- Turnaround
- first reply within 48 hours, trial report within [x] business days.
- Cost
- [x]
Send a description of your part and your goal. Answer within 48 hours.
Three fields, and we get back to you
Grip that lasts, from site to factory.
48 hours to find out what plasma can do for your surfaces. No commitment, just clear answers from an expert.
Response within 48 hours. No commitment. A technical discussion with an expert.