How does plasma cleaning technology improve the surface activity of injection molded parts?

Today we will discuss in detail how plasma cleaning technology solves the pain points of upgrading automotive interior and bumper processes!

Firstly, in the automotive manufacturing process, the surface treatment of plastic injection molded parts such as car interior parts, dashboard, and bumper directly affects the appearance quality, durability, and environmental performance of the product. In traditional processes, flame treatment and corona discharge machines are widely used due to their low cost and simple operation, but their drawbacks are becoming increasingly apparent.

Because high-temperature flames may cause local carbonization and thermal stress deformation of materials, it is difficult to accurately control the surface activation depth. In addition, the flame method poses safety hazards, energy waste, and harmful gas emissions, making it difficult to meet the increasingly stringent environmental requirements of the automotive industry.

Plasma cleaning technology, with its non-contact, low-temperature treatment, and high uniformity, can become a new generation process core to replace flame methods and corona machines, especially suitable for surface cleaning and activation modification of plastic parts, which can significantly improve the quality of subsequent spraying and bonding. Next, let's delve into the operating principle of plasma cleaning technology in the field of plastic parts?

1. Plasma cleaning technology generates highly active particles by ionizing argon oxygen gas, which can accurately act on the surface of plastic parts, generating physical etching and chemical groups at the nanometer level. This plasma cleaning modification technology can not only increase surface roughness, but also introduce polar growth groups, significantly improving the adhesion of coatings. High energy ions (such as argon ions) in the plasma bombard the surface of silicone rubber at high speed, removing adsorbed organic pollutants such as grease and release agents through momentum transfer. At the same time, micro protrusions on the surface are etched, forming micro scale rough structures and improving surface roughness.

When reactive gases such as oxygen are introduced, the oxygen radicals generated by the plasma undergo oxidation reactions with the molecular chains of silicone rubber, breaking the long chains and introducing polar groups (such as hydroxyl and carboxyl groups). The increase of polar groups not only enhances surface energy, but also makes the groove structure of rough surfaces more stable, further improving the adhesion of adhesives or coatings.

2. Common automotive plastics such as PP, ABS, and PC can be cleaned using plasma cleaning. At low temperatures, plasma cleaning machines can greatly improve production efficiency and reduce costs. Processing in a vacuum environment will not cause product damage or deformation.

In many cases, plasma cleaning technology can quickly clean complex residues on the surface, such as dust, grease, oxides, particulate matter, and other invisible stains. Plasma cleaning technology decomposes the polymer chains of organic residues, and oxygen free radicals immediately occupy the released bonds, thereby preventing polymer fragments from re polymerizing. In hydrogen plasma, excited hydrogen molecules, ions, and free radicals react with the oxygen of oxides to form vapor that is easily pumped out by a vacuum pump.

In summary, plasma cleaning treatment before PP and PE printing can increase the content of polar groups on non-polar surfaces through plasma oxidation etching, enhance the adhesion of inks and coatings, and solve problems such as difficult adhesion!