Atmospheric Plasma Surface Treatment: A Cross-Industry Solution

2025-12-01

Atmospheric plasma technology is an efficient, dry surface treatment method. It generates a highly reactive plasma using compressed air, enabling direct inline treatment of material surfaces without the need for a vacuum environment. It addresses key surface challenges prior to bonding, coating, or printing and is applicable to a wide range of materials including metals, plastics, ceramic/glass, and composites.

 

Core Value: Efficient, Eco-Friendly, Inline Processing

This technology significantly increases a material's surface energy by introducing oxygen-containing polar functional groups, achieves ultra-fine cleaning, and removes organic contaminants. Its primary advantage lies in seamless integration into continuous production lines, offering fast processing speeds, elimination of chemical solvents, and alignment with green manufacturing trends.

 

Applications and Value by Material Type

1. Metals

Problem Solved: Removes oxides and oils, enhancing coating adhesion and bond strength.

Typical Scenarios: Pre-treatment of automotive aluminum alloy parts before painting ensures coating durability; cleaning aluminum housings for power battery modules optimizes contact with thermal interface materials.

Business Value: Increases product reliability, reduces rework, and enables the use of lightweight materials.

 

2. Plastics & Polymers

Problem Solved: Activates low-surface-energy plastics (e.g., PP, ABS), removes mold release agents, and solves "hard-to-bond" issues.

Typical Scenarios: Pre-treatment of automotive plastic bumpers before painting ensures paint adhesion; surface activation of consumer electronics housings before printing enables high-quality graphics.

Business Value: Expands design possibilities for plastics, improves aesthetic quality and added value, and supports the use of environmentally friendly coatings.

 

3. Ceramics & Glass

Problem Solved: Achieves ultra-clean surfaces and improves wettability/bonding without mechanical abrasion.

Typical Scenarios: Precision cleaning of smartphone glass covers before coating; surface activation of automotive glass prior to adhesive sealing.

Business Value: Meets stringent industry demands for "absolute cleanliness" (e.g., optics, electronics) and reliable, long-term seals.

 

4. Composites

Problem Solved: Provides uniform surface treatment for CFRP/GFRP, enabling selective activation without damaging fibers.

Typical Scenarios: Surface preparation of aerospace carbon fiber components before bonding, significantly increasing joint strength.

Business Value: Overcomes bonding challenges for lightweight materials, enabling structural weight reduction and performance enhancement.

 

Process Gas Selection

Equipment typically uses compressed air as the process gas, offering a cost-effective solution for most cleaning and activation tasks. For advanced applications requiring specific surface chemistry (e.g., introducing nitrogen-containing functional groups), gases like nitrogen can be used for more precise modification, enabling tailored performance characteristics.

 

Conclusion

Atmospheric plasma technology provides a versatile and efficient surface modification solution across multiple industries. It directly enhances product reliability, aesthetics, and performance while driving advancements in green manufacturing and material innovation, establishing itself as a highly valuable enabling technology for modern manufacturing.