Deutsch (Germany) 
Polski (PL) 
Plasma technology as the key to greener processes
In times of increasing global environmental responsibility, plasma technology is becoming more and more the focus of the plastics industry. Plasmatreat GmbH, the global market leader for atmospheric pressure plasma, is setting new standards in plastics processing with its innovative developments Openair-Plasma® and PlasmaPlus®.
Openair-Plasma® (atmospheric pressure plasma) developed by Plasmatreat can be used to change the surface properties of plastics. The activation that occurs when the plasma jet strikes the surface optimizes wettability and significantly increases adhesion. This results in long-term stable adhesion of adhesives, paints, varnishes, liquid or solid sealants. PlasmaPlus, another process developed by Plasmatreat, also makes it possible to coat plastics with a nanocoating that improves adhesive adhesion while eliminating the need for environmentally harmful chemicals such as primers.
More efficient processes, greater resource conservation
With its beneficial properties, plasma technology plays a key role in implementing the three basic principles of sustainability - reduce, reuse, recycle - in the plastics industry:
Reduce: By using plasma technology, plastics production can be made more resource efficient, as plasma treatment increases the compatibility of plastics. Energy-intensive, expensive materials can be replaced by cheaper and more resource-efficient alternatives, such as recycled plastics.
Reuse: The life of plastic products is significantly extended through the use of plasma. Products can be used and reused for longer periods of time due to the improved adhesion and resistance achieved through plasma surface modification.
Recycling: A key benefit is the improved processability of recycled plastics. Plasma pretreatment makes these plastics more usable, allowing them to be recycled and reducing waste.
Plasma technology also ensures more environmentally friendly production processes. Openair-Plasma® treatment requires only compressed air and electricity to operate, is solvent-free and reduces the need for environmentally harmful chemicals. This not only conserves resources, but also reduces CO₂ emissions and improves the environmental performance of many industrial processes.
Plasma - paving the way for greater sustainability and a circular economy
Practical examples from Plasmatreat show how the innovative technology is contributing to a more sustainable plastics industry. For example, one customer uses Openair-Plasma® to bond truck tarpaulins, saving 2,200 liters of solvent per year. In the production of headlights, a major automotive manufacturer has saved 65 million kWh of energy and 3,100 tons of CO₂ by switching to simpler and more energy-efficient plastics. A Plasmatreat project with injection molding machine manufacturer Arburg shows how plasma technology simplifies the processing of recycled plastics: Recycled polypropylene drinking cups are prepared for UV digital printing using Openair-Plasma® pretreatment. Brilliant and durable printing is achieved without the use of additional chemicals.
"Plasma technology plays a key role in helping the plastics industry implement more sustainable production processes and significantly reduce its environmental impact. The efficient use of recycled plastics and the avoidance of environmentally harmful chemicals make it a key technology for the plastics industry of the future," emphasizes Joachim Schüßler, Sales Manager Germany at Plasmatreat GmbH.
