Working principle
Plasma is an energetically excited gas state. When a process gas is excited electrically, reactive species form and react with the part surface — without any use of chemicals. As a key technology for fine cleaning, surface activation and plasma coating, the process covers three tasks that often come immediately before bonding, painting or printing: it removes the finest organic contamination, raises the surface energy for better wettability and can deposit functional layers.
TeSe works with two variants. Atmospheric plasma (Openair) operates at ambient pressure: the nozzles can be robot-guided and integrated cost-effectively directly into the production line. Vacuum plasma treats parts in batches in a process chamber and also reaches complex geometries. The technology partner for both variants is Ferrarini & Benelli.
Corona pre-treatment for large, flat substrates
For large, flat substrates — especially plastic films and web material — corona pre-treatment is often the most economical solution. In a corona discharge, the surface is activated with a defined power over a defined time: the surface energy (measured in dynes/cm) rises so that printing inks, adhesives and coatings adhere reliably. This is particularly important for polyethylene and polypropylene films, whose surface tension is naturally low. Technology partner Ferrarini & Benelli specialises in corona systems (“Corona and Plasma”) — from laboratory units to wide-web installations.
Advantages
- Fine cleaning, surface activation and plasma coating with a single technology
- Without any use of chemicals — a dry process with no downstream drying steps
- Atmospheric variant (Openair): robot-guided and suitable for inline integration into the production line
- Vacuum variant: batch treatment, also suitable for complex part geometries
- Corona variant: economical activation of large, flat substrates such as films and web material
- Improved wettability and adhesion in preparation for bonding, painting and printing
- Technology-neutral selection of the appropriate variant by TeSe
Typical applications
- Pre-treatment of plastic and metal surfaces before bonding, painting or printing
- Inline pre-treatment in automated production lines, for example in plastics processing and automotive
- Fine cleaning and activation of sensitive parts, for instance in medical technology
- Batch treatment of complex parts using vacuum plasma
- Corona activation of plastic films and web material before printing, laminating or coating
Test the process at TeSe
To find out whether plasma or corona pre-treatment suits your part and your contamination, we run trials in Nürensdorf: 1–2 hours of tests free of charge. In-depth feasibility studies: CHF 1’200 per day, 50% credited towards a machine purchase.
Documents & videos for this process
Datasheets & brochures
- Ferrarini & Benelli · BrochureEN
Videos
Technology Partner · Ferrarini & Benelli