Atmospheric Plasma Deposition for Adhesive Bonding of Multi-Material Systems

Atmospheric pressure plasma deposition using a new, low-energy process was recently demonstrated as a replacement for conversion coatings for surface treatment to bond dissimilar, lightweight materials, offering significant cost savings and elimination of chemical waste. The system shows potential to overcome limitations of existing commercial systems in the chemical bonding and structures that can be produced. The proposed work is aimed at establishing the capabilities of the new process, improving the robustness for manufacturing, and evaluating alternative precursors for expanding the surface characteristics and performance for different lightweight materials. The advanced surface characterization capabilities and expertise at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will be leveraged to develop the fundamental understanding needed to accelerate the path to implementation in manufacturing.