EW September 2016

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News
Corporate
32 September 2016
Surface cleaning
Surface cleaning and degreasing is an important part
of the wire production process. Traditionally this involves
mechanical or wet, chemical processes that are potentially
harmful to the operator and the environment. One way
to turn production chemical-free is to use plasma surface
cleaning, which is a dry surface treatment.
PlasmaCleaner is a plasma surface treatment machine
designed for surface cleaning, degreasing or oxide removal
on ferrous and non-ferrous wire. Plasma treatment is a dry
process that requires no rinsing or drying. Plasma treated
surface can be used for removal of wet lubricant or fine oxide
layer removal.
Whilst the material is kept in an inert atmosphere, the
material surface is cleaned and activated, allowing for
effective surface coating
(good coat adhesion)
or strong intermetallic
layer creation between
the material and surface
coating.
PlasmaCleaner can be
used in conjunction
with polymer coating/
extrusion (PTFE, FEP, PFA,
ETFE or Teflon), cladding,
spray coating, taping,
enamelling or magnet
wire, or for production
of power and signalling
conductors for various cables (solid, rectangular, braided or
bunched). PlasmaCleaner can also be used as an efficient and
accurate preheater.
Plasma is ineffective when it comes to removal of large
quantities of soaps and scale, where conventional cleaning
processes such as ultrasonic cleaning can be used as
pre-cleaning in combination with fine, dry plasma treatment.
After cooling in an inert atmosphere the material can also be
led to ambient air where a fine oxide layer is formed on the
processed material surface. This results in a high degree of
surface passivation, which will protect the surface by slowing
down subsequent surface corrosion.
Plasmait GmbH – Austria
Website:
▲ ▲ Plasma treated copper wire
During the main conference of the European Plastics
Converters (EuPC) annual meeting in Lyon, France, Repsol
was bestowed the HDPE Best Polymer Producers Award
for Europe 2016 and the overarching award on Innovation
covering all polymer types.
The awards are the result of an online customer survey
launched by the Polymers for Europe Alliance.
This award is not only the result of the good work of the
entire team involved, comprising different businesses and
areas of the company, but will also become an additional
driver to further increase Repsol’s commitment to its
clients.
Repsol – Spain Website:
Awards time for Repsol