Dec 08, 2009 
Whether coating, bonding, casting, printing or foaming is concerned – optimum and permanent adhesion can only be achieved with many substrates if the surface is pre-treated. The cold-active plasma beam of the patented Plasmabrush technology developed by Reinhausen Plasma opens up a whole range of new application possibilities for industrial processes under ambient pressure. Even temperature-sensitive substrates and thin-walled, fine and complex contours can be treated efficiently in a process that is both reliable and environmentally sound.
Plasma treatment is often used to prepare components for subsequent processing by modifying the bonding strength of their surfaces – preferably under atmospheric pressure, because this process means there is no need for any reactor, pump or lock systems which in turn makes integration into automated processes simpler resulting in shorter cycle times. With its patented Plasmabrush technology, Reinhausen Plasma GmbH offers a cold-active plasma tool that combines the benefits of low-pressure plasma processes such as high plasma activity and low thermal material stress with the simple automation of atmospheric plasmas. In addition the specific physical properties of the cold-active plasma generators Plasmabrush PB1 and PB2 ensure enhanced process reliability and efficiency for the surface treatment of metals, plastics (z.B. PMMA, POM, PP, PE, PA 6, PA 12, elastomers and silicons), glass ceramics and papers. This technology also enables the cleaning and activation/modification of materials that cannot be treated with conventional, so-called “cold” atmospheric plasmas.
Plasmabrush PB 1 – colder, slower, more gap accessible and purer
Lower temperatures, slower gas speeds, higher ability to access even the smallest gaps and its gas purity are the outstanding features of the patented Plasmabrush system when compared to conventional plasma generators for surface treatment that work on the principle of ambient pressure.
The difference in temperature results from the generation of the gas plasma. This is effected with PB1 by means of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD), which causes acceleration of only the light electrons. The result is a cold, non-thermal plasma that has a maximum temperature of 70 °C under ambient pressure. The low temperature means that even very thin and/or temperature-sensitive substrates such as plastics, films, paperboards and paper can be treated harmlessly.
At the same time the PB1 can be operated with low gas flow volumes resulting in a laminar gas flow that prevents non-activated ambient gas being whirled in. The backpressure in front of a surface against which gas flows is so low that even very small and light components can be treated. Thanks to the laminar flow properties the plasma spreads over the surface uniformly and reaches into the smallest cavities, undercuts and smallest gaps. The PB1 can be moved statically over structured, three-dimensional and complex substrate geometries in a processing path width of 30 mm per nozzle, so that uniform treatment of the whole surface can be achieved. Up to three plasma heads can be arranged in parallel or offset to each other for the treatment of wide components .
The high stream density and the high gas temperature in conventional atmospheric pressure plasma generators can lead to local fusings on the excitation electrodes. More often than not the metal removed by the plasma is deposited as an impurity on the surface of the substrate being treated and impairs the quality of the pre-treatment. This is prevented in the Plasmabrush thanks to its low temperature and special patented design, making the system suitable even for cleanroom applications.
Plasmabrush PB2 – high-performance for industrial applications
A speed of 600 meters/minute and a path width of 40 mm per nozzle means that the PB2 meets the high demands of efficiency and cost-saving for the pre-treatment of large surfaces such as the cleaning of metal tapes before coating, stripping of paint from wires before bonding and activation of elastomers before painting. The company in Regensburg did prioneering work in the generation of plasma gases to achieve this. Generation is carried out on the inverter principle by means of highly effective, pulsed arc discharges. Whereby, a cold non-thermal plasma is generated whose maximum temperature of 120 °C is still considerably lower than that of conventional “cold” atmospheric-pressure plasmas. The turbulent flow of the plasma can access gaps and contours of down to 10 mm.
Both systems are available as stand-alone devices as well as versions for simple and space-saving integration in line and robot processes. The central control of the PB2 is designed for the operation and control any desired number of plasma generators.
About Reinhausen Plasma GmbH
Reinhausen Plasma GmbH is a subsidiary of Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH, the worldwide market leader and leader of technology for the regulation of high-power transformers that is also located in Regensburg. We see ourselves as an innovative supplier of plasma solutions for surface finishing and coating. The company sets new standards in cleaning and surface activation with plasma with the development of its cold-active atmospheric-pressure plasma tools plasmabrush and piezobrush, whose outstanding features include low operating temperatures, slow gas speeds, extreme accessibility of gaps and contours by the plasma and their high degree of gas purity. For the very first time the patented plasmadust process enables energy-efficient coating of 2 and 3-dimensional components made from almost all materials without the need of any solvents or chemicals (VOC-free).
