Publication: 24.07.2012 11:00
Dernière mise à jour: 24.07.2012 23:32
Délai: 25.06.2013 02:00
Type: Offre

Abstract

An institute of a German university specialised in microwave plasmas has developed high rate deposition processes for abrasion and scratch resistant layers on polymers, polycarbonate (PC) in particular, applicable on industrial level. Deposition rates of up to 50 µm per minute have been achieved. Apart from their high abrasion and scratch resistance, the silica films show excellent adhesion to PC. The institute looks for industrial partners for technical co-operation and joint research projects.

Description

An institute of a German university has developed diverse low pressure plasma processes based on large-area homogeneous microwave plasma sources easily scalable and adaptable to industrial requirements. These plasma sources offer a great variety of combinable applications in surface treatment, for example coating, activation, functionalisation, cleaning and sterilisation.

High rate plasma deposition of silica layers at low pressure and low temperature conditions facilitates effective abrasion and scratch resistance on polymers. This has successfully been demonstrated on polycarbonate. The newly developed plasma processes producing high deposition rates of up to 50 µm per minute
- provide excellent homogeneity of the layer and
- offer optimised adhesion of the dielectric layer to the surface of the polymer and
- are designed for industrial applications on polymer substrates with surface areas of several square meters.

The extremely short processing time as a result of the high deposition rates of up to 50 µm per minute allows for the deposition of abrasion and scratch resistant layers on even thermally sensitive polymer materials.

The silica layers with a thickness of several µm deposited on polymer materials in a high rate plasma process not only efficiently protect the polymer material due to their effective abrasion and scratch resistant properties but also offer or maintain a multitude of additional functionalities like
- optical transparency,
- acid resistance, and
- microwave transparency, etc.
of the plasma coated polymer material.

Due to the disposability of different low pressure microwave plasma sources designed and developed by the institute, customised plasma processes can easily be developed for deposition of homogeneous dielectric coatings for achieving abrasion and scratch resistance,
- facilitating the adaptation of the chemical composition (e.g. silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon carbide or compositions thereof) and of the layer thickness
- on 2-dimensional materials and even on 3-dimensional substrates
- in a batch or in an inline process, depending on the specific requirements.

The plasma sources are easy scalable to industrial level and therefore essentially facilitate the development of customised plasma processes.

Complementary to the development of the plasma process and to the customised setup of the plasma source, the institute will offer in-situ and ex-situ analysis to control the proper performance of the process.

The institute is in a co-operation with an equipment builder that optionally will provide support in the technical implementation of the process.

The institute was and is still active in several German projects (such as e.g. on industrially relevant high-rate plasma deposition of silica layers on polycarbonate for providing abrasion and scratch resistance.
Moreover it has been very active on a European level and is presently participating in an EC-funded Research for SMEs project on surface decontamination of cork stoppers.

Innovative Aspects:
The newly developed plasma deposition processes of silica layers provide:
- effective abrasion and scratch resistance on polymers,
- high deposition rates of up to 50 µm per minute,
- hence applicability on even thermally sensitive polymer materials due to extremely short processing times,
- excellent homogeneity of the layer,
- optimised adhesion of the dielectric layer to the surface of the polymer, and
- the possibility to treat polymer substrates with surface areas of several square meters at industrial level.

The silica layers with a thickness of several µm deposited on polymer materials in a high rate plasma process provide efficient protection due to their effective abrasion and scratch resistant properties and offer or maintain a multitude of additional functionalities like
- optical transparency,
- acid resistance, and
- microwave transparency, etc.
of the plasma-coated polymer material.

Technology domains

• Propriétés des matériaux, corrosion/dégradation
• Plastiques, polymères
• Matériaux de construction
• Traitements de surface (peinture, galva, polissage, CVD, PVD)
• Revêtements

Current stage of development

Development phase - Laboratory tested

Exploitation of RTD results

None

Intellectual property rights

Intellectual property rights

Secret know-how

Submitting organisation

Type of organisation: Research institute/University
Size of organisation: 11-50

Collaboration

Comments

- Type of partner sought: Industry, i.e. small or medium enterprises or industrials
Research organisations

- Specific area of activity of the partner:
Manufacturer and end user of polymers, e.g. from chemical industry or from automotive industry, respectively
Research institute specialised in the enhancements of existing polymers and in the development of new polymers, respectively.

- Task to be performed by the partner sought:
Partners should be looking for new solutions to protect various kinds of polymers by plasma surface treatment and high rate plasma deposition at low temperature conditions against environmental damage.