Freudenberg to develop customized textiles with APPLD technology
04 Oct '07
2 min read
Dow Corning's Plasma Solutions group has licensed its atmospheric pressure plasma liquid deposition (APPLD) technology for commercial coating on one of its SE-1000 AP4 systems to Weinheim, Germany-based company Freudenberg Forschungsdienste KG.
After working with Dow Corning for several years to co-develop plasma-coated products and manufacturing processes, Freudenberg is now ready to begin commercially producing a variety of APPLD-processed products in a roll-to-roll process modifying flexible substrates such as woven and nonwoven fabrics or polymer films.
The aim of the collaboration between Dow Corning and Freudenberg is to push the commercial use of APPLD technology in the European market. Freudenberg provides product development and toll manufacturing using Dow Corning's APPLD technology via its SE-1000 AP4 coating system.
Dow Corning's APPLD technology allows users to engineer the surface of virtually any substrate by applying extremely thin coatings of various materials that chemically bond to the underlying substrate.
Coatings can have a wide range of characteristics, such as waterproofing, low-friction slickness, adhesion promotion or antimicrobial properties. The energy-efficient APPLD process operates at near room temperature, uses no water, solvents or surfactants and has negligible waste disposal or recycling needs.
“We're pleased that Freudenberg has decided to begin full-scale surface modification of flexible substrates, like technical textiles and polymer films, using our APPLD technology,” said Chris Shirk, Dow Corning Plasma Solutions program manager.
“This collaboration allows us to leverage 60 years of Dow Corning surface-science experience to deliver a total solution, from manufacturing equipment to chemical precursors to processing know-how.”
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