The surfaces of most polymer plastics have poor wettability, which is why paints, varnishes and adhesives do not adhere to them well. Plasma activation with an Arcospot® device reliably solves this problem.
The Arcospot® devices are optimised for the efficient in-line pre-treatment of moulded parts, profiles, adhesive grooves and collapsible boxes. With a treatment speed of up to 200 m/min, they keep up with the fastest production line.
This ensures that there is no delay in your production due to plasma activation. Thus, plasma treatment offers you a significant advantage over chemical surface activation with aggressive primers and unavoidable drying times.
Of course, the Arcospot® systems also allow process gases to be added, making plasma activation even more specific. We determine the optimal design of your devices for you based on a sample test and on our extensive experience in the field of plasma generators.
The electronics of all Arcospot® devices are modular and plug-in, making it much easier to replace individual components. Thanks to the standardised signal inputs and outputs, each device can also be controlled by a higher-level system.
Technical data
| Mains voltage | 230 V AC, 50–60 Hz |
|---|---|
| Power consumption | 0.9 kVA |
| Air consumption | Approx. 30 l/min |
| Compressed air connection | 4–6 bar |
| Treatment width | Max. 15 mm |
| Standard hose length | Connection between generator and ext. transformer: 2.0 m |
| Generator dimensions | 470 × 530 × 210 mm |
| Weight | 21 kg |
The Arcospot® PGS062P offers the same benefits as the PSG061P equipment, but has two electrode heads. Since both electrodes can also be controlled separately, they are also suitable for simultaneous plasma activation on two separate production lines.
Technical data
| Mains voltage | 230 V AC, 50–60 Hz |
|---|---|
| Power consumption | 2 × 0.9 kVA |
| Air consumption | Approx. 60 l/min |
| Compressed air connection | 4–6 bar |
| Treatment width | 2 × max. 15 mm |
| Standard hose length | Connection between generator and ext. transformer: 2.0 m |
| Generator dimensions | 470 × 530 × 210 mm |
| Weight | 32 kg |
Plasma pre-treatment is a common method in the field of plastic activation. It significantly improves wettability so that paints, varnishes and adhesives adhere securely to polymers and other substrates. Plasma treatment does not require aggressive chemicals, as it is a purely physical procedure.
In order to ensure a secure hold of adhesive or finishing coats on non-polar plastic substrates, they must be given a means of chemical bonding. For this purpose, the non-polar molecular chains on the surface of the material are broken down.
During plasma activation, compressed air is blown through an electrode with a high-voltage discharge at its head. The required energy is provided by a semiconductor generator with an external transformer for the Arcospot® devices. The discharge ionises the air, creating a plasma.
The plasma thus produced is brought by the air flow from the electrode and onto the substrate surface, where it breaks down the closed molecular chains. The free radicals created during plasma production can accumulate there, which results in polar molecules. These are the ideal basis for a chemical bond between substrate and adhesive or paint.
In this way, plasma activation increases the wettability of the surface and thus contributes to a significant increase in the adhesive strength of the substrate. Without this pre-treatment, varnishes, paints and adhesives would not last permanently on many plastics.
