EPDM door seals perform two important functions: they act as weatherstrips and reduce the noise level perceived in the vehicle interior. Automobile door seals require specialty surface finishes to make sure that dirt particles will not adhere to them. However, getting a functional coating (anti-friction or flock coating) to adhere during the extrusion process is no easy task.
In the past, EPDM profiles had to be roughened continuously by means of rotating wire brushes – a complicated process with unpredictable results.
Different nozzle arrays are positioned as necessary to cover the entire profile geometry. In this continuous process, the plasma activation is non-contacting, uniform, and highly effective.
Because of its distinct advantages, plasma pretreatment of EPDM profiles has rapidly become the state of the art in the automotive industry:
High productivity due to fewer rejects
100% process monitoring with the plasma control system
Robust system technology 24/7, high availability (>99.5%)
Rapid set-up: simple, reproducible arrangement of plasma jets relative to the profile geometry
EPDM profiles for the automobile industry are pretreated with Openair-Plasma® before painting or flocking at Hutchinson in Aachen, Germany. The advantages: scrap reduction, increased production, and the highest process safety reliability.
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