Plasmatreat: Openair plasma surface pretreatment

Plasmatreat has with his Openair plasma technology an innovative surface coating for Surfacespretreatment of Plastic, Metal or Glass developed. Due to its activation power, the Openair plasma increases the surface energy significantly. Two application examples illustrate the innovative development for plasma pretreatment.

Contents

• Plasma surface treatment in chip manufacturing
  • Plasma treatment unit with extensive options
• Abrasion-resistant metal and plastic painting with open air plasma
  • Optimal paint adhesion thanks to plasma activation
  • Paint or print abrasion-resistant plastic
  • Functional nano-coatings for difficult cases
• Plasma technology for the surface in industry - video 
• What is Openair Plasma?

Plasma surface treatment in chip manufacturing

So far, the Semiconductor industry for many uses vacuumplasma used. But here, too, speed in the manufacture of semiconductor components is increasingly important, while precision and quality must remain guaranteed. The family company Plasmatreat from Steinhagen has faced these increased challenges and developed a fully automated inline system for selective treatment with Openair plasma.

The flexibly adaptable, potential-free High speed treatment In contrast to the vacuum plasma process, it allows a fast inline process under atmospheric conditions. The process is suitable for the treatment of surfaces such as fine cleaning or activation and plasma coating. This technology can be used in many ways in semiconductor production. For example, it allows microfine cleaning for leadframe and packaging processes. It replaces the vacuum chamber in the production of chip packaging efficiently and cost-effectively.

3D printing service – online and fast

Other uses of the Openair plasma process can be found in wire and die bonding, thermal compression bonding and pre-molding. “As an established system supplier, we accepted an inquiry from a long-standing customer and developed a special system for him, the Plasma Treatment Unit (PTU).

In order to keep to its speed specifications, we have this PTU with one Dual lane concept worked. We treat components in parallel on two conveyor belts within one system. This PTU can selectively pretreat 8 to 128 components inline on defined storage devices for the subsequent thermal compression bonding process and is designed for maximum throughput ”, explains Nico Coenen, Market Segment Manager Electronics at Plasmatreat.

Plasma treatment unit with extensive options

The PTU was designed for the specific process engineering sequence in semiconductor manufacturing and is seamless can be integrated into production lines. With it, different kinematics and Automations implement, including the tailor-made handling of assemblies and components. In addition, the Openair plasma from Plasmatreat enables efficient surface treatment. "Since we already produce fully automated systems for other industries, we didn't have to build up the internal design and automation expertise required to develop and implement this customer system," says Nico Coenen.

3D MID component carrier protects point of sale terminals

"Around the highest possible cycle times To be able to guarantee, it was necessary to think holistically during the conception phase, to consider several process steps at once and to implement them precisely, ”emphasizes Mr. Coenen. For example, Plasmatreat has developed the dual-lane concept for high-speed treatment of up to 1,5 m / s. The concept is suitable for various applications. It is designed for Jedec trays and leadframes and has various processing concepts adapted to the cycle time. the Communication takes place within the production line via the standard equipment interface protocol interface of the semiconductor industry SECS / GEM.

All work steps are recorded in the PTU and placed on the chips using barcodes traceable made. It is documented where the individual components selectively or z. B. only the top of a component were treated with plasma. Plasmatreat has expanded the testing capacities for this at its Steinhagen location and set up a class 6 clean room.

Abrasion-proof painting of metal and plastic with Openair Plasma

With its open air plasma technology, Plasmatreat has an innovative surface coating for Surfacespretreatment of Plastic, Metal or Glass developed. Due to its activation power, the Openair plasma significantly increases the surface energy. This means that the materials can be painted to be abrasion-resistant or print. Users get an excellent appearance and long-term stable paint adhesion.

Plastic recycling from and for industry and other uses

Lets itself in Material Applying or printing poorly or not at all, this is mostly due to its low level surface energy and poor adhesion properties. Only when the surface energy of the material is higher than that of the corresponding ink does the wettability become homogeneous. The plastic or other material maintains optimal adhesion of the printing ink and varnish.

Optimal paint adhesion thanks to plasma activation

Because of their low polarity, plastics only have a low polarity surface energy. This means that they can hardly be painted without pre-treatment. The Long-term stable liability of paints on plastics with a flawless appearance therefore requires effective surface pretreatment, regardless of whether for them Automotive industry, White goods or components.

Contamination can be removed and the surface energy can be increased significantly. The thoroughly cleaned surfaces get better wettability, and that without any wet chemical substances. The technology also has a positive effect on the amount of paint required.

Antibacterial even without disinfection with a special coating

With the open air plasma technology of plastic, metal and glass, the surface energy is activated. At the same time, liability groups are formed. This leads to an improvement in the wettability over the entire surface and, as a result, to a Long-term stable paint adhesion the paintwork. With highly effective fine cleaning or, in the case of plastics, by gently activating the surface, users can paint or print difficult surfaces such as those made of plastic. 

In contrast to conventional wet chemical methods such as priming are no drying processes and intermediate storage required. The components can then be painted immediately after they have been cleaned and activated with atmospheric pressure plasma. Plasma activation can then be implemented for large-format parts or for the location-selective treatment of complex components. It is equally effective for water-soluble and solvent-based paints.

Paint or print abrasion-resistant plastic

By pretreating with the Atmospheric pressure plasma The adhesion of the ink to the object to be printed or painted improves, the luminosity of the printing ink is intensified and a uniform color gradient is possible. The improved one adhesion of plastic parts etc. leads to a high resistance to abrasion and moisture and guarantees a long service life of the print.

All printing processes, forms and materials benefit from pre-treatment with open air plasma, be it digital printing, pad printing, screen printing or offset printing. The components can be flat or three-dimensional with small to large areas.

Even difficult surfaces of the plastics polyethylene (PE), polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), glass or metal can be coated and printed without additional adhesion promoters. This also applies to solvent-free inks that require a particularly high surface energy of the medium to be printed.

Functional nano-coatings for difficult cases

Difficult to print on materials usually require a solvent-based primer and various surface etching processes before applying varnish or paint. These methods have many disadvantages. They are complicated to use, process insecure, expensive and harmful to the environment.

Corrosion protection for the pretreatment of metal surfaces

By means of the plasma plus Procedure can be dispensed with. Instead, the surfaces are given a transparent nano-coating. The coating material or precursor is introduced directly into the open air plasma nozzle and fits seamlessly into the pretreatment process. The plasma process is dry, cold, site-selective and very fast.

The Plasmatreat technology for painting or printing metal and plastic parts guarantees continuous process control and Reproducibility. It is inline capable and can also be easily integrated into existing systems. The painting can take place immediately afterwards. Especially with glass, metal and high-quality plastic, the Plasmaplus Print coating offers advantages in terms of adhesion, scratch resistance and moisture resistance.

Plasma technology for the surface in industry 

Plasmatreat is exhibiting at Fakuma 2021.

General technical knowledge

What is open air plasma?

Open air plasma technology is one Fine cleaning under atmospheric conditions for the pretreatment of surfaces for e.g. B. Paintwork. The open air plasma offers a high process speed, process reliability, exact reproducibility and inline integration. Also in things environmental friendliness The open air plasma technology sets standards. The use of chemical primers can be completely dispensed with and VOC emissions can be reduced.