Fire and Flame for New Surfaces

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 colour of the car body. This is all down to 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.

Flame treatment meets surface chemistry

”Our aim is to expand the range of functionalization and produce bespoke surfaces for special applications. For example, we produce specific functional groups on the surface as reaction partners for reactive adhesives. This enables us to create a high-performance composite with a much better adhesion than with ordinary activation”, explains Dr. Andreas Holländer, a specialist for surface technologies at the Fraunhofer IAP.

The partners combine the Fraunhofer IAP’s expertise in surface chemistry with esse CI’s know-how in flame treatment. They hope to utilise the energy of the flame for chemical processes that go beyond simple oxidation. This requires chemicals to be added to the flame, for example in the form of gases, vapours or aerosols. The studies are conducted in a plastic film processing plant at the Fraunhofer IAP. “Here we test which effects are produced by the chemicals. Using this knowledge, esse Ci’s mechanical engineers enhance the next generation of equipment”, says Holländer.

Augusto Angeli, chairman of esse Ci, is pleased: “By installing our flame treatment system in the demonstration plant in Potsdam we are able to demonstrate the technology’s capabilities to potential customers. “ Stefano Mancinelli, process and sales manager, adds: “We are advancing the development of the technology with the aim of developing new market segments.“

The medium-sized company from Narni, Italy produces equipment for surface treatment on plastic films, cards, aluminium foil and 3D objects. Their flame treatment technology is already being used in a range of industrial applications.

Rapid industrialization with new partners

In order to facilitate the industrialization of this new generation of flame treatment systems, interested companies are invited to take part this year in the project. They can influence the detailed planning, for example, of materials and process parameters, and receive first-hand information and research results. The Fraunhofer IAP and esse CI also provide workshops on the technology, equipment and project results.

Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP

The Fraunhofer IAP in Potsdam-Golm, Germany, specializes in research and development of polymer applications. It supports companies and partners in custom development and optimization of innovative and sustainable materials, processing aids and procedures. In addition to the environmentally friendly, economical production and processing of polymers in the laboratory and pilot plant scale, the institute also offers the characterization of polymers. Synthetic petroleum-based polymers as well as biopolymers and biobased polymers from renewable raw materials are in the focus of the institute’s work. The applications are diverse, ranging from biotechnology, medicine, pharmacy and cosmetics to electronics and optics as well as applications in the packaging, environmental and wastewater engineering or the aerospace, automotive, paper, construction and coatings industries. | Director: Prof. Dr. Alexander Böker

Esse CI

Esse CI is an Italian company from Narni that has been specializing in the surface activation of polyolefins and other substrates since 1969. It is the world leader in flame treatment systems for BOPP extrusion lines (up to 10.5 m wide). Esse CI is also active in the pre-treatment (aseptic packaging, extrusion coatings, lamination, printing, adhesive coating, conversion) of materials like paper, cardboard, aluminium, steel, PET and Tedlar®.