by Rose Roberts, Ph.D., senior custom applications and materials engineer, Brighton Science Surface energy is the ability of molecules on a surface to attract other molecules. This is important for predicting when paints, coatings and other decorations will stick to a surface. Rose Roberts, Ph.D., with Brighton Science, provided insight into this important topic. Explain the … [Read more...] about Surface Energy Measurements for Development and Control of Surface Treatment Options
Quality
Keys to Successfully Implementing New Plastics Decorating Processes
by Paul Uglum, president, Uglum Consulting, LLC Few activities have a greater impact on a business than the introduction, or expansion, of in-house decorating processes. Plastics decorating consists of a diverse and ever-expanding collection of fundamentally different secondary processes. New technologies and methods are continually being introduced. Improved UV cure systems, … [Read more...] about Keys to Successfully Implementing New Plastics Decorating Processes
UV/Ozone Surface Pretreatment to Improve Adhesion of Polymers
by Scott R. Sabreen, president, The Sabreen Group, Inc. Note from the author: Printing and adhesion problems on many polymers and rubbers are common throughout industry. This is a result of the inherently low surface energy of polymers, among other factors. Surface oxidation processes can oxidize polymer surfaces, making them more wettable. Ultraviolet (UV)/ozone … [Read more...] about UV/Ozone Surface Pretreatment to Improve Adhesion of Polymers
Advancements in Vision Inspection Solutions for In-Mold-Labeled Packaging
by Scott Heins, director of sales and marketing, INTRAVIS Inc. The market for in-mold-labeled (IML) packages continues to grow and expand domestically as well as internationally. IML decoration methods result in a customized, premium look that has always been preferred for high-end packages (see Figure 1). In recent years, this labeling technique has grown for traditional … [Read more...] about Advancements in Vision Inspection Solutions for In-Mold-Labeled Packaging
Solid, Liquid, Gas and Plasma Energy: 3DT’s Improved PlasmaDyne Pro
by Jewlissa Frickey, editor, Plastics Decorating Bonding problems are pervasive in manufacturing due to many materials refusing to bond to other materials as a result of their chemical structure. 3DT sought to overcome this manufacturing issue with its PlasmaDyne Pro atmospheric plasma surface treatment system. 3DT has developed the new PlasmaDyne Pro for a variety of … [Read more...] about Solid, Liquid, Gas and Plasma Energy: 3DT’s Improved PlasmaDyne Pro