Plasma pre-treatment is a crucial step for improving the quality and durability of automotive assemblies and components. It enhances the adhesion and compatibility of different materials that are used for encapsulation, printing, or painting processes. By applying plasma to the surface of low-energy materials, it removes contaminants and creates functional groups that increase the surface energy and reactivity.
Elisa Arikan has won the second FEICA/EURADH Adhesion Innovation Award for her paper, "Structural Adhesive Bonding of Polymers — Surface Characteristics and Adhesion Mechanism."
Researchers have created magnetic replicas of sunflower pollen grains using a wet-chemical, layer-by-layer process that applies highly conformal iron oxide coatings. The replicas possess natural adhesion properties inherited from the spiky pollen particles while gaining magnetic behavior, allowing for tailored adhesion to surfaces.
A three-day comprehensive short course on the chemistry, physics and mechanics of adhesion science is scheduled November 14-16, 2012, at the Courtyard by Marriott, Stewart-Newburgh, NY.
