Surface treatment with plasma
Plasma surface treatment at a glance
We use the fourth state of matter for highly efficient polishing and deburring - even selectively.
Plasma has become an integral part of modern surface technology. Due to its physical properties, it offers unique approaches to surface finishing - whether for plastics, metals or other materials. In the special field of plasma electrolytic surface technology, it has established itself as one of, if not the most efficient process for polishing stainless steels. And this is precisely where our specialty lies.
Welcome to plasmotion - your expert for plasma polishing and plasma deburring. We will introduce you to various approaches for plasma-based surface finishing and show you how our technologies fit in. Our experts will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Your expert for questions
- Sven Friedemann
- Technical sales
- Phone +49 3731 37736 - 31
What is plasma?
Plasma surface treatment as an attractive alternative to conventional approaches.
In addition to liquid, solid and gas, plasma is the fourth state of matter. Simply put, this state is created as soon as gases are ionized by the addition of energy, e.g. strong heating. This is because atoms are split into free electrons and ions. The result is a mixture consisting of neutral atoms, electrons and ionized particles.
Because plasma consists of charged particles, it has excellent electrical conductivity. It can also generate electromagnetic fields and react accordingly. As already mentioned, plasma is often used for plasma surface treatment. This makes it possible to adapt (modify) the surface of various materials as required. Plasma is mainly used in the course of plasma surface treatment for plasma cleaning, activation and the creation of certain functions.
TechnologyN
Processes for plasma processing: cutting, welding, activation, cleaning and many more.
Hot plasma processes
The use of plasma for cutting and joining, e.g. with plasma cutting, is well known. Here, the high thermal energy of an ionized gas stream is used to liquefy metal locally and blow it out of the cutting gap. The gas section between the torch and the workpiece is ionized by an initial pilot arc so that the cutting arc can then be ignited. This leads to the desired melting effect at a considerably higher power.
Cold plasma process
So-called cold plasmas are also used, particularly in the area of surface activation or cleaning. These are generated either under low pressure in a vacuum chamber or under atmospheric pressure on a plasma head. The latter variant can be easily integrated into production lines due to the open reaction chamber and is known, for example, from adhesive seam activation in electronics production.
Plasma electrolytic processes
The third relevant area - and the core expertise of plasmotion - is plasma electrolytic technologies. Here, an electrical voltage is applied around a workpiece in an aqueous electrolyte to form a vapour skin that ionizes. This vapor-plasma envelope overlays several mechanisms of action and thus enables particularly efficient processing, e.g. with plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO), plasma polishing (PEP) and jet plasma polishing (JETPEP).
Areas of application for plasma technologies
Classic plasma processes have proven themselves in many industries - and not just for polishing.
Among other things, the aim is to improve the adhesion of coatings on medical devices. In addition, plasma activation enables better adhesion of biological components. Plasma polishing produces high-quality surfaces that can be cleaned quickly, especially on sensitive components.
Plasma activation improves the adhesion of PCB materials to surfaces. In addition, professional plasma cleaning with subsequent activation is carried out before coating or bonding (bonding processes). With plasma polishing and deburring from plasmotion, non-ferrous metals in particular can be prepared for PVD coating.
Before painting, plastic is prepared using a plasma treatment so that the paint adheres better to components. However, the improved adhesion of adhesives to vehicle parts for assembly is also a major advantage. Metals can also be processed with plasma - e.g. when plasma polishing tools without edge rounding.
Various elements such as printing ink, labels or other coatings adhere better to packaging. In general, various materials in the packaging sector are easier to print on thanks to plasma surface treatment. If the best metal surfaces are required, plasma polishing has proven particularly effective for stainless steels.
Dyes and other coatings adhere better to textiles, fiber surfaces are prepared for certain functional properties. Plasma can also be used to polish nozzle components in a targeted manner and in record time.
In this area, surfaces and components are exposed to high stresses and are prepared accordingly. In addition, the highest surface requirements usually require manually reworked, especially polished surfaces. this can be automated with plasma polishing.
Advantages of plasma processes
Plasma is versatile - from metals to textiles - and has numerous advantages.
Energy efficient: If plasma is used for surface treatment, the energy input is often lower than with other processes.
Cost-efficient: Low operating costs and fast processing times can make processes such as atmospheric pressure plasma or plasma polishing significantly more cost-efficient.
Environmentally friendly: In many cases, no chemicals are required for plasma surface treatment. Even after the treatment process, there are no environmentally harmful residues.
Are you looking for a more efficient technology for polishing and deburring metals?
For our plasma electrolytic surface treatment, we use an electrolyte bath based on an aqueous salt solution. A DC voltage of between 200 and 400 volts, which varies depending on the material, is applied between the workpiece and the cathode . The voltage causes the electrolyte to evaporate locally - and forms a reactive vapor plasma shell around the component. An interplay of plasma-physical and electrochemical processes removes micro-roughness, burrs and impurities. The result: a highly smooth and shiny surface without pre-processes.
Plasma for polishing and deburring
plasmotion also uses plasma - for highly efficient metal finishing.
plasmotion also uses plasma surface treatment - in the form of plasma electrolytic processes. We support you with your surface challenges and carry out the following with our two technologies plasma polishing and JETPEP technologies - even on alloys such as copper, brass and, in some cases, aluminum!
Plasma polishing achieves your target roughness of up to Ra 0.02 µm, largely preserving the original geometry with minimal edge rounding.
Our surfaces also impress where aesthetics are required. Plasma polishing offers a higher gloss than electropolishing and enables an even finish on a par with hand polishing.
Improve the feel, corrosion resistance and cleanability of your components with plasma polishing. The plasmotion finish meets even the highest requirements, e.g. in the medical technology and pharmaceutical industries.
plasmotion has qualified the process for almost all industrially relevant alloys - from stainless steels to titanium, tool steels, copper, aluminum, brass, CoCr, precious metals, Invar, Nitinol, and many more.
Plasma polishing
Efficient, sustainable & reliable. Plasma surface treatment with plasma polishing.
Are you looking for an alternative to conventional surface treatment? Plasma polishing regularly achieves the results of existing process chains in a single step. The interaction of plasma physics and electrochemistry simultaneously cleans, polishes and deburrs the workpieces. Roughness values of up to Ra 0.02 µm are possible.
Whether classic stainless steel, tool steel, titanium alloy, copper or special materials - with our many years of expertise and in-house electrolyte development, we will also find the right solution for your surface!
JETPEP - jet plasma polishing
Fully automated plasma polishing with a selective jet - that's JETPEP.
The demand for ever smoother surfaces and more flexible manufacturing processes is increasing. More and more often, the only solution is hand polishing. For precisely these applications, we have developed JETPEP developed for precisely these applications. With this innovation, we are able to concentrate the power of plasma polishing in an electrolyte jet and apply it precisely to the surface.
This allows us to achieve even complex geometries and a local processing speed in the range of seconds. The process can be fully automated on our systems, whether with robots or axis kinematics. We can also meet the precise surface requirements, complex burr patterns and additively manufactured components on your surface - contact us!
Services from plasmotion
We turn your surfaces into a competitive advantage.
Would you like to find out more about our technologies and are you interested in plasma electrolytic polishing? Together we will find out whether plasma polishing is best suited to your application and in which variant. We offer our technologies in contract manufacturing and supply modern system technology for integration into your production.
Your next steps
Make your production future-proof - with plasma polishing solutions from plasmotion.
Your challenge - our solution. Your direct route to a customized offer.
Let's talk about your specific concerns.
We would be happy to convince you of the strengths and possibilities of our technologies based on your components. The first step is a sampling. Simply get in touch with us.
Do you have questions about our technologies and applications?
Do your materials and surfaces have special requirements? Are you unsure whether plasma polishing is right for your product? Would you like to know how plasmotion can help you as a solution provider? I will be happy to answer your questions personally.
Your expert for questions
- Sven Friedemann
- Technical sales
- Phone +49 3731 37736 - 31