At OVE Plasmatec, the surface finishing of elastomer seals comprises the processes of cleaning, coating, treatment and service. The increasing demand for technical cleanliness is presenting many manufacturers and suppliers with ever greater challenges. With the low-pressure plasma process, OVE Plasmatec shows how the applicable regulations and standards can be complied with when finishing and using elastomer seals.
Cleanliness and LABS conformity
In many industries, assemblies are becoming ever smaller and more powerful. This means that ever smaller seals also require special treatment before they can be used. OVE Plasmatec is currently subjecting a pea-sized seal for e-bike electric motors to such treatment. In order to be able to apply a coating with a wafer-thin and highly elastic water-based bonded coating to the seals, the most important prerequisites are absolute cleanliness and certified LABS conformity. For this reason, the seals undergo deep-acting plasma cleaning after basic cleaning.
Low-pressure plasma system for deep cleaning
A vacuum is first generated in the low-pressure plasma system. A high-frequency generator supplies electrical voltage, which is introduced with ambient air or oxygen. This creates an electrically conductive gas, the plasma, which changes the surface properties of the sealing rings by exciting the molecules. Oxygen radicals (O) and ozone (O3) are formed during this ultra-fine cleaning process. The free radicals with the diffusing non-elastomeric substances combine with residues of the production additives and oxidize as gas (CO2) and H2O. This not only removes remaining surface production aids, but also, depending on the material composition, diffused, unbound compound components such as plasticizers from elastomers.
Preventing particle contamination
OVE Plasmatec uses plasma cleaning to show that it is possible to prevent particle contamination on component surfaces and to comply with guidelines and directives for the production of cleanliness-sensitive parts, assemblies and systems in terms of technical cleanliness without exceeding the financial capabilities of SMEs.