Topic: Plasma pretreatment process extrusion - two-component composites, plastic extrusion, aluminium extrusion, metal extrusion, two component extrusion

Processes: New possibilities for joining different materials in components

New composite materials by using Openair® plasma in two-component extrusion

Materials which were hitherto incompatible can be made to adhere to one another in the extrusion process by means of Openair® plasma technology. This mainly involves joining hard and soft materials, e.g. composites of silicone and polypropylene. The manufacture of composite materials by two-component extrusion allows cost-effective production. Now products having highly specific requirements on the materials can also be produced.

Example of a two-component application: soft-touch covering in car construction	Pretreatment with Openair® plasma in two-component injection moulding

In-line application in the two-component extrusion process

In the production process the injection mould is opened after injection of the first component and a plasma jet is passed over those regions which are to be joined to the second component. Accordingly, the first material is pretreated with precision and very efficiently to ensure adhesion to the mating material. 

This process was developed in close collaboration with Krauss-Maffei, the Institute for New Materials in Fürth (NMF) and Elastogran (BASF). The use of different standard materials, in the medical sector for example, has been made possible for the first time by plasma technology.