SKZ expands surface treatment equipment
The SKZ Plastics Center has expanded its pre-treatment options for plastic components with a high-performance excimer module from Ushio Germany. The rapid surface cleaning and activation by VUV radiation leads to significant improvements in adhesion.
The SKZ has recently acquired a high-performance excimer module from Ushio Germany, thereby expanding its existing pre-treatment options for plastic components. The technical data includes the high radiation intensity of over 200 mW/cm2 at a wavelength of 172 nm, a maximum treatment width of 30 cm and a very homogeneous radiation field. The combination with a linear traversing unit and the option of varying the atmosphere between the emitter and the component means that the module offers a high degree of flexibility and is suitable for process-related applications.
Vacuum ultraviolet radiation (VUV radiation) offers numerous advantages, including the combined ultra-fine cleaning of organic contaminants and activation, even with thermally sensitive substrates. Instant-on operation avoids lead times and thus ensures high efficiency. "The fields of application of the excimer module are very diverse and range from activations in bonding, printing and coating processes to adhesion improvements in injection molding or direct joining processes of plastics and metals. I am convinced that this solution gives our research great flexibility and enables us to carry out very practical tests for our customers - starting with in-process experiments right through to the upscaling phase," says Christian Eck, Project Manager for Surface Technology at the SKZ.