EuroWire September 2016

News Corporate

Surface cleaning Surface cleaning and degreasing is an important part of the wire production process. Traditionally this involves mechanical or wet, chemical processes that are potentially harmful to the operator and the environment. One way to turn production chemical-free is to use plasma surface cleaning, which is a dry surface treatment. PlasmaCleaner is a plasma surface treatment machine designed for surface cleaning, degreasing or oxide removal on ferrous and non-ferrous wire. Plasma treatment is a dry process that requires no rinsing or drying. Plasma treated surface can be used for removal of wet lubricant or fine oxide layer removal. Whilst the material is kept in an inert atmosphere, the material surface is cleaned and activated, allowing for

effective surface coating (good coat adhesion) or strong intermetallic layer creation between the material and surface coating. PlasmaCleaner can be used in conjunction with polymer coating/ extrusion (PTFE, FEP, PFA, ETFE or Teflon), cladding, spray coating, taping, enamelling or magnet wire, or for production of power and signalling

▲ ▲ Plasma treated copper wire

conductors for various cables (solid, rectangular, braided or bunched). PlasmaCleaner can also be used as an efficient and accurate preheater. Plasma is ineffective when it comes to removal of large quantities of soaps and scale, where conventional cleaning processes such as ultrasonic cleaning can be used as pre-cleaning in combination with fine, dry plasma treatment. After cooling in an inert atmosphere the material can also be led to ambient air where a fine oxide layer is formed on the processed material surface. This results in a high degree of surface passivation, which will protect the surface by slowing down subsequent surface corrosion. During the main conference of the European Plastics Converters (EuPC) annual meeting in Lyon, France, Repsol was bestowed the HDPE Best Polymer Producers Award for Europe 2016 and the overarching award on Innovation covering all polymer types. The awards are the result of an online customer survey launched by the Polymers for Europe Alliance. This award is not only the result of the good work of the entire team involved, comprising different businesses and areas of the company, but will also become an additional driver to further increase Repsol’s commitment to its clients. Repsol – Spain Website : www.repsol.com Awards time for Repsol Plasmait GmbH – Austria Website : www.plasmait.com

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September 2016