Fraunhofer Institute Collaborates on Flame Treatment Research
POTSDAM, Germany – The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP in Potsdam, Germany, and the Italian company esse CI are uniting their expertise in surface chemistry and machine engineering in order to expand the opportunities provided by flame treatment and to extend the range of surface properties. Interested companies can take part in the development of this technology and help advance its industrialization.
When plastic bumpers were first introduced, they were black because paint did not adhere very well to the surface. Today, these plastic components can easily be painted in the color of the car body. This is because of a change in surface properties. The surface is pre-treated with the help of an electric charge or flame. During flame treatment, reactive components form during the burning process. This initiates oxidation on the material being treated; however, this oxidation is unspecific and can only be altered in quantity, not in typology. This means there is considerable room for the development of optimized high-performance applications. Both partners are looking to explore new avenues in flame treatment.