Plastic parts made of nonpolar polymers, such as polypropylene, have low surface energy. Before printing, coating, or bonding, reliable surface activation is therefore necessary to improve wetting, adhesion, and process reliability.

This white paper demonstrates how surface functionalization via electron treatment can be considered an alternative to conventional activation methods. It focuses on the physical fundamentals, a comparison with flame treatment, relevant process parameters, and the compact system design for three-dimensional plastic parts.

It also describes how compact, low-energy electron emitters can be integrated with industrial robots to functionalize complex 3D plastic parts in a reproducible and long-term stable manner.

Here’s what you’ll learn

• Why nonpolar plastic parts must be activated before printing, coating, or bonding
• What limitations and challenges exist when flame-treating three-dimensional plastic parts
• How electron treatment can be used for surface functionalization
• Which process parameters and system designs are relevant for reproducible functionalization