The surface treatment process for silicone and electroplating products
Now consumers have higher and higher requirements for products, products should not only have the appearance (good-looking), but also connotation (functionality), as well as environmental protection!
If the company can add the above three elements to the product, it will greatly expand the market share!
Among these three elements, appearance is the most intuitive factor to attract consumers. The appearance of the product is closely related to the surface treatment process of the product. Recently, the Hong Kong Productivity Council has launched a new surface treatment process for silicone and electroplating products, which can greatly improve the product function!
The oxygen atoms on the surface of the silica gel are modified with plasma energy, and the surface of the negative electrode silica gel is changed to a positive electrode
Silicone products dust-proof treatment environmental protection process
Silica gel is a heat-resistant rubber that can withstand high temperatures. Compared with other materials, silica gel has biocompatible properties, and the products made are quite durable and suitable for food, medical and industrial industries. However, the surface of silicone is prone to dust. Manufacturers generally use chemical spraying methods to make the surface of silicone products dust-proof and smoother. However, this process is not only expensive but also affects the ecological environment and endangers human health.
Theoretically, there are oxygen atoms on the surface of the silica gel, with negative electrodes and static electricity, and dust particles with positive electrodes, so the dust particles and the electrostatic surface of the silica gel can attract each other, making the surface dusty and difficult to clean, affecting the appearance and efficacy of the product.
In response to the problem that the surface of silica gel is prone to dust, the R&D team of the HKPC has been working on solutions. It was found that the use of plasma surface modification technology can improve performance. Finally, the plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) technology was successfully used to optimize the product. The effect of surface properties.
Dr. Lo Wai-yin, the Senior Consultant of the Smart Manufacturing and Materials Technology Department of the Productivity Council, pointed out that due to the influence of static electricity, general silica gel is prone to dust. If manufacturers use traditional chemical coating methods, the effect of dust-proof and lubricating coatings can only last for a few months.
The new method is to use plasma energy to modify the oxygen atoms on the surface of the silica gel and change the surface of the negative electrode silica gel to a positive electrode. The process uses harmless organic chemicals and does not discharge polluting waste, so it is a clean production process. With its low static electricity and high dust-proof effect, it is suitable for high-end products, such as eyeglass frames, watch straps, etc. It can also be used in medical equipment and sports products so that these products have better performance.
Plasma surface treatment technology is suitable for materials such as fibers, polymers and plastics. It can also be used to clean, activate and etch the surface parts of metal, plastic and ceramic materials to change the physical characteristics of the material surface.
Once a small amount of chemical gas is added, the chemical properties of the material surface can be fine-tuned to improve the surface function of the material, providing value-added functions such as hydrophilic or hydrophobic, easy to clean, anti-fouling or adjusting the surface of electrostatic materials. This technology was awarded the Certificate of Merit of the Hong Kong Awards for Industry and Commerce in 2014.
The dust-proof treatment of silicone products is an environmentally friendly process, which can effectively solve the problem of silicone static electricity, easy to get dust and prolong the life of the product. It is a green surface treatment process. It can be applied to all silicone and related products.
Low-cost production scheme for thick ion plating
High Energy Pulsed Plasma Magnetron Sputtering (HPPMS) is a new type of magnetron sputtering system that combines the two characteristics of "high energy" and "pulse". In the coating process, the power supply plays an important role. Using the "high energy" and "pulse" discharge methods, it can emit powerful energy of up to 1500V output voltage in a short time of fewer than 2 microseconds, just like a lightning phenomenon.
Since a large number of ions are released in the process and the internal stress of the coating is eliminated, a thick ion coating can be made without damaging the surface of the product or workpiece. In this way, the ionization rate (IonizationRate) can be increased, that is, the adhesion of the coating on the product surface can be improved.
High-energy pulsed plasma magnetron sputtering technology can surpass traditional magnetron sputtering methods and produce thick ion coatings with high quality of more than 3μm. Since the high-energy pulse method is beneficial to increasing the density of ions, it not only strengthens the bonding force between the coating and the substrate but also reduces the surface roughness, which can further enhance the wear resistance and reduce the number of replacements on functional parts.
For highly decorative products, it can maintain the appearance and be more durable, so a high-energy pulsed coating can be used to effectively use plasma to control the structure of the coating. Its biggest feature is that it can be deposited on smooth and dense microstructures. , to improve corrosion resistance and surface finish, or it can be deposited on complex geometric workpieces to achieve a more uniform coating.
Enterprises only need to add HPPMS pulse machines to the existing vacuum ion plating equipment, the investment cost is low, and it is very cost-effective.
Dr. Lu Weixian said: "This technology can be said to be an extension of vacuum ion plating, which helps manufacturers to develop higher-tech markets. It can help the metal processing industry, such as watches, electronic products, cutting tools, and mold industries, to expand the market, providing Products with higher quality and high performance will enhance competitiveness in the long run.”
