KNOXVILLE, TENN. (September 22, 2016) This August, Plasmatreat generously placed their highly valuable plasma treatment equipment at the IACMI Composites Laboratory in The Department of Energy’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Based in Elgin, IL, Plasmatreat became a member of IACMI-The Composites Institute in December, 2015 in hopes of enhancing U.S. quality manufacturing.
The Plasmatreat Openair Plasma Systems placed in the facility represent advanced technology for plasma based material surface conditioning and currently being used for the purposes of cleaning, etching, polymerization, surface activation and increasing manufacturability. The state-of-the-art FG5001 Plasma Generator provides a constant voltage force with semiconductor amplifiers enabling it to combine high performance with precise power regulation and process controls.
Along with SciQuip’s laboratory equipment, the contributed treatment systems will be used in IACMI projects benefitting various aspects of multi-material experimentation. For example, to increase the surface energy of fibers, enhanced paintability and strength of additive manufactured parts. Along with these benefits, the system is also extensively used in experiential training of students in graduate and undergraduate thesis and dissertation work to advance the composites science and technologies.
“Access to facility space and unique equipment are important elements of IACMI’s value proposition”, said Uday Vaidya, IACMI’s Chief Technology Officer and University of Tennessee/Oak Ridge National Laboratory Governor’s Chair. He continued, “Plasmatreat’s generous partnership allows IACMI members and University of Tennessee Engineering students to use cutting edge multi-material joining equipment during research and project work”.
Plasmatreat North America CEO, Andy Stecher agreed stating, “We are pleased to provide the treatment system equipment to IACMI-The Composites Institute. This partnership allows our organization to work side-by-side with innovative students and world renowned researchers with beneficial expert knowledge of cutting edge technology being used throughout the entire composites ecosystem.”
About IACMI
The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), managed by the Collaborative Composite Solutions Corporation (CCS), is a partnership of industry, universities, national laboratories, and federal, state and local governments working together to benefit the nation’s energy and economic security by sharing existing resources and co-investing to accelerate development and commercial deployment of advanced composites. The national institute is supported by a $70 million commitment from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Manufacturing Office and over $180 million committed from IACMI’s partners. Find out more at IACMI.org.
About Plasmatreat
Plasmatreat USA, Inc. is headquartered in Elgin, IL with additional laboratories/subsidiaries located in Hayward, CA and Ancaster, ON. Over the last 20 years Plasmatreat first invented and has since continuously advanced the use of atmospheric pressure plasma technology for surface treatment and surface modification for manufacturing. Plasmatreat, a privately owned company, offers an environmentally friendly and workplace safe technology portfolio in place of mechanical or wet chemical solutions. Key industries for Plasmatreat are Automotive, Medical, Electronics, New Energies and Aerospace. Find out more at Plasmatreat.com.