Dow Corning's Plasma Solutions group has licensed its atmospheric pressure plasma liquid deposition (APPLD) technology for commercial coating on one of its SE-1000 AP4 systems to Weinheim, Germany-based Freudenberg Forschungsdienste KG. The APPLD technology allows users to engineer the surface of virtually any substrate by applying extremely thin coatings of various materials that chemically bond to the underlying substrate.

Dow Corning's Plasma Solutions group has licensed its atmospheric pressure plasma liquid deposition (APPLD) technology for commercial coating on one of its SE-1000 AP4 systems to Weinheim, Germany-based Freudenberg Forschungsdienste KG. After working with Dow Corning for several years to co-develop plasma-coated products and manufacturing processes, Freudenberg is now ready to begin commercially producing a variety of APPLD-processed products in a roll-to-roll process modifying flexible substrates such as woven and nonwoven fabrics or polymer films.

The aim of the collaboration between Dow Corning and Freudenberg is to push the commercial use of APPLD technology in the European market. Freudenberg provides product development and toll manufacturing using Dow Corning's APPLD technology via its SE-1000 AP4 coating system.

Dow Corning's APPLD technology allows users to engineer the surface of virtually any substrate by applying extremely thin coatings of various materials that chemically bond to the underlying substrate. Coatings can have a wide range of characteristics, such as waterproofing, low-friction slickness, adhesion promotion or antimicrobial properties. The energy-efficient APPLD process operates at near room temperature, uses no water, solvents or surfactants and has negligible waste disposal or recycling needs.

Gerd Esswein, general manager of Freudenberg Forschungsdienste KG, said that Freudenberg decided to use plasma coating because of its unique capabilities and because it is a remarkably green technology. "Dow Corning's APPLD technology gives us the chance to develop and manufacture customized textiles and other flexible materials with novel, tailor-made properties. In addition, the APPLD technology complies with strict European environmental regulations and saves energy, raw material and waste, compared to traditional wet-chemical methods" he said.

For more information, visitwww.dowcorning.com/content/plasma/orwww.forschungsdienste.de/.