Plasma Cleaning

Plasma activation is usually considered the key stage for polymers and resins, however, activating the material surface cannot take place without an initial clean. Removing handling contaminants or additives that have bloomed to the product surface is key to enabling plasma and corona treatment to perform at their best. Cleaning happens automatically as the first stage of treatment on these materials.

Is a material being treated, cleaned or etched? In a way, all of these are happening at once. On materials like polymers, cleaning occurs, followed by treatment because the material accepts treatment well. A glass on the other hand will only receive cleaning as the substrate is hard, strong and doesn’t react in the same way. A composite or resin structure will be cleaned, treated and etched more readily to give it the finish needed. All of these terms will improve surface energy and performance and it can be difficult to say exactly which has taken place. All of them are useful!