Characteristics

With the help of microwave plasmas or corona treatment, the surfaces of fibres made of glass, carbon, plastic or natural products (wool, silk, plant fibres etc.) can be adjusted to generate optimal properties for subsequent processing steps. Units with a processing surface of 50 cm² are available. Emphasis is placed on the manufacture of tailored textile structures for fibre composite materials.

Coronas and microwave plasmas

Corona treatment occurs at normal pressure; MW plasma treatment is carried out in a low pressure (vacuum) procedure. The processes involve very low material input, and they are dry and solvent-free, which means that they are extremely environmentally friendly.

Our service

• Process and material development

• Purification, desizing and sterilisation with coronas and MW

• Pretreatment with coronas and MW: hydrophilic, adhesive, hydrophobic, non-adhesive, low-friction, dyable, anti-felt, biocompatible, etc.

• Functionalisation through coating with MW plasmas: hydrophilic, adhesive, hydrophobic, non-adhesive, low-friction, biocompatible, semi-permeable etc.

• Thorough drying in a rough vacuum with microwave radiation for preparation of materials for moisture-sensitive processing methods (e.g. cast polyamide, CBT)

• Upscaling of surface treatment processes to commercially-relevant size and processing times, e.g. for continuous treatment of fabrics

• Large-area microwave plasma unit (90 x 60 cm²) for high-performance, high-speed processes for manufacture of product prototypes

• Determination of all process and material-specific parameters and properties