Plasma technology meets plastics processing

Since July 1, the German Research Foundation (DFG) has been sponsoring the trans-regional collaborative research centre (SFB/TRR 87) for plasma technology. Research teams from RWTH Aachen University, the Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) and the University of Paderborn have joined forces to examine fundamental issues regarding the development of plasma-assisted processes for the deposition of functional layers.

The SFB, initially financed for four years, covers the following research areas: coating systems on metal substrates for tribological applications, new functional coatings in order to improve the barrier performance of plastic substrates, and studies on elementary principles of plasma processes.

The Institute of Plastics Processing (IKV) at RWTH Aachen University takes part in two subprojects. In close cooperation with its partners, the IKV will perform research in the large-scale deposition of strain-tolerant barrier coatings on PET films and, based on the example of PP, the influence of material properties – e.g. orientations and internal stresses – on the plasma process.

This SFB will bring together scientists from the fields of plasma physics, plasma technology, plastics processing, materials science, materials engineering, mechanical engineering and interface chemistry. They will study the influence and the potential of high-performance plasmas, starting with the atom in the gaseous phase to the performance characteristics of new, theoretically conceived material systems.

Contact: Dr.Tim Arping
arping@ikv.rwth-aachen.de