Environmentally friendly plasma activation of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene and polydimethylsiloxane surfaces to improve paint adhesion

M.A. Martínez, J. Abenojar, S. López de Armentia

Coatings Vol. 8, nº. 12, pp. 428-1 - 428-13

Summary:

Generally, polymeric materials present an issue related to their low surface energy: low painting ability. The main aim of this work is to improve the adhesion between polymeric surfaces (polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)) and paints (epoxy (EP), and polyurethane (PU)-based). In order to increase adhesion, hydrophilic modification of surfaces by atmospheric pressure plasma torch treatment (APPT) was proposed. Furthermore, it can permit dissimilar joints, i.e., ABS with a metal joined by a silicone (based PDMS), to be painted. The surface modifications were characterized by measurements of surface energy and roughness. In addition, the effectiveness of the pre-treatment on improving paint adhesion was confirmed by scratch, cross-cut, and adhesion tests. Results showed the possibility of coating both ABS and PDMS with a PU-based paint when treated with plasma. As a novel result, polymer and metal panels joined by silicone were able to be painted with the PU paint.

Keywords: polydimethylsiloxane; acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene; atmospheric pressure plasma torch; epoxy paint; polyurethane paint; adhesion tests

JCR Impact Factor and WoS quartile: 2,330 - Q2 (2018); 3,400 - Q2 (2022)

DOI reference: https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings8120428

Published on paper: December 2018.

Published on-line: November 2018.

Citation:
M.A. Martínez, J. Abenojar, S. López de Armentia, Environmentally friendly plasma activation of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene and polydimethylsiloxane surfaces to improve paint adhesion. Coatings. Vol. 8, nº. 12, pp. 428-1 - 428-13, December 2018. [Online: November 2018]