It’s known that the uppermost 2 to 3 molecular layers of a surface can drastically affect the quality of an adhesive bond. The impact of even trace amounts of oil, grease and even fingerprints can result in changes in the surface that could cause a defect and potential failure point for the coating that leads to poor adhesion and potential for coating failures.
Surface cleaning performed with a PlasmaBlast treatment is enabled by the oxidative, dry chemical etching of the surface contamination by the plasma-generated reactive species. The contamination is vaporized immediately and blown off by compressed air, resulting in a clean surface. Since there are no added chemicals, there is also no residue on the surface. Application of plasma treatment unlocks the chemical bonding sites of the surface for superior bonding and adhesion but does not damage or remove any material from the original substrate surface.
The PlasmaBlast process provides near instantaneous cleaning of surfaces due to the rapid reactions between plasma species and contaminants. Only requires compressed air and 240V electricity to operate.
Complete surface cleaning at atmospheric pressure using only compressed air and electricity. The PlasmaBlast system treats the complete surface (cracks, crevices, profile valleys) without changing the profile or mechanical/metallurgical properties.
PlasmaBlast has been deployed as a portable system for manual use or robotic implementation for commercial assets and has been ruggedized to ensure successful operation in harsh environments.
This sealed system integrates easily into a robotic cell. No dangerous light emissions. Ideal for surface cleaning before welding. This model includes a plasma pen designed for attachment to an end effector and a serial port for digital control
Engineered to do surface preparation in tight spaces and remotes places. Proven effective 300+ feet in the air on wind turbines. Also proven to withstand use in desert, arctic and coastal environments.
Handheld operation to use at a work bench or in a lab setting. This system is easily portable across a workshop. Setup and ready to go in about a minute with no settings required. The ergonomic plasma pen weighs less than one pound
How to Achieve True Non-Destructive Surface Preparation
Recently, APS collaborated with ADV Integrity, Inc. (ADV) in a testing program[ validate the impact of cold plasma surface preparation on the performance of composite systems used to repair transmission pipelines. The testing program consisted of two main phases, Phase 1: Lap shear testing and Phase 2: Leak repair full-scale testing.
The PB 7000-M system has been shown effective in removing a wide range of coatings and sealants to achieve a clean substrate. The technology has been validated by Fortune 100 companies and in projects with the US Navy, US Air Force, NATO and the Strategic Environmental Research and Development program (SERDP).
The contract extends APS’s strategic support of Naval platforms on all classes of Surface Ships, Air Craft Carriers and Submarines as well as other naval assets.