Best Practice AM Expo 2023

Targeted surface changes through different technologies

Laser cleaning, atmospheric plasma technology, combination of laser & plasma pretreatment and vacuum plasma for technical surfaces in the med tech industry.

The processing of technical surfaces is facing new challenges and innovative technologies offer groundbreaking solutions. In this context, we would like to compare laser cleaning technology, atmospheric plasma technology and vacuum plasma technology to show the advantages and application areas of these advanced processes.

Laser cleaning technology has established itself as an effective method for removing contaminants, coatings and oxidation from technical surfaces. Using precise laser beams, even stubborn deposits can be removed without damaging the underlying surface. Laser cleaning is characterized by its speed, precision and environmental friendliness and is used in various industries such as the automotive industry, electronics manufacturing and medical technology.

Atmospheric plasma technology offers a flexible and non-contact solution for surface treatment. By generating an atmospheric plasma that is selectively applied to the surface, dirt particles can be removed, oxidation reduced and coating adhesion improved. Atmospheric plasma technology enables precise control of plasma treatment and is used in areas such as the electronics industry, plastics processing and printing technology.

The combination of laser with atmospheric plasma lends itself to the elimination of environmentally damaging adhesive layers for bonding processes on aluminum parts. The laser can selectively change the surface topology without harming the parts, and the subsequent atmospheric plasma treatment increases the adhesion of the resulting surfaces. Tensile shear tests have shown that treated bond lines on such machined aluminum parts can withstand up to over 60% more load than non-treated parts.

For small parts and micro parts where plasma treatment is required, vacuum plasma technology is used. This is particularly useful because tiny parts are often difficult or impossible to position and hold to prevent flying away during atmospheric plasma treatment. By using a vacuum, parts can be precisely treated while the surrounding area remains free of contamination. Vacuum plasma technology provides excellent control and precision in surface modification and has applications in fields such as microelectronics, medical devices and precision engineering.

It is important to emphasize that both laser cleaning technology, atmospheric plasma technology and vacuum plasma technology are advanced and effective methods for surface processing. The selection of the appropriate technology depends on the specific requirements, material composition and desired results.

For more information about the different surface processing technologies and their application areas, please do not hesitate to contact us.