Germany's Freudenberg Forschungsdienste KG Licenses Dow Corning Plasma Solutions' Deposition Technology
October 01 2007 - 9:35AM
PR Newswire (US)
MIDLETON, COUNTY CORK, Ireland, Oct. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Dow Corning's Plasma Solutions group has licensed its atmospheric
pressure plasma liquid deposition (APPLD) technology for commercial
coating on one of its SE-1000 AP4 systems to Weinheim,
Germany-based company Freudenberg Forschungsdienste KG. After
working with Dow Corning for several years to co-develop
plasma-coated products and manufacturing processes, Freudenberg is
now ready to begin commercially producing a variety of
APPLD-processed products in a roll-to-roll process modifying
flexible substrates such as woven and nonwoven fabrics or polymer
films. The aim of the collaboration between Dow Corning and
Freudenberg is to push the commercial use of APPLD technology in
the European market. Freudenberg provides product development and
toll manufacturing using Dow Corning's APPLD technology via its
SE-1000 AP4 coating system. Dow Corning's APPLD technology allows
users to engineer the surface of virtually any substrate by
applying extremely thin coatings of various materials that
chemically bond to the underlying substrate. Coatings can have a
wide range of characteristics, such as waterproofing, low-friction
slickness, adhesion promotion or antimicrobial properties. The
energy- efficient APPLD process operates at near room temperature,
uses no water, solvents or surfactants and has negligible waste
disposal or recycling needs. "We're pleased that Freudenberg has
decided to begin full-scale surface modification of flexible
substrates, like technical textiles and polymer films, using our
APPLD technology," said Chris Shirk, Dow Corning Plasma Solutions
program manager. "This collaboration allows us to leverage 60 years
of Dow Corning surface-science experience to deliver a total
solution, from manufacturing equipment to chemical precursors to
processing know-how." Gerd Esswein, general manager of Freudenberg
Forschungsdienste KG, said that Freudenberg decided to use plasma
coating because of its unique capabilities and because it is a
remarkably green technology. "Dow Corning's APPLD technology gives
us the chance to develop and manufacture customized textiles and
other flexible materials with novel, tailor-made properties. In
addition, the APPLD technology complies with strict European
environmental regulations and saves energy, raw material and waste,
compared to traditional wet-chemical methods" he said. About Dow
Corning Plasma Solutions Dow Corning Plasma Solutions is a leading
global developer of atmospheric plasma-coating equipment, materials
and processes for a wide range of markets, including automotive,
biotechnology, construction (e.g., windows), electrical and
electronics, healthcare (e.g., medical devices), general industrial
manufacturing, packaging (e.g., food and beverage, pharmaceutical)
and technical textiles. About Dow Corning Dow Corning Corporation
(http://www.dowcorning.com/) is a globally integrated provider of
materials, application technology and services, and is focused on
providing innovative technologies that help its customers to invent
the future. For more information on Dow Corning Plasma Solutions,
visit http://www.dowcorning.com/content/plasma/. Dow Corning
Corporation is equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company and
Corning Incorporated. About Freudenberg Forschungsdienste KG With
240 employees, Freudenberg Forschungsdienste is the central R&D
partner for all Freudenberg companies and offers development tasks,
testing and analytical services to external customers. It is an
important part of Freudenberg New Technologies together with New
Business Development and Venturing. For more information on
Freudenberg Forschungsdienste, please visit
http://www.forschungsdienste.de/. About Freudenberg Group
Freudenberg is a family-owned company offering its customers
technically challenging product solutions and services. The
Freudenberg Group is first and foremost a supplier specializing in
seals and vibration control technology, nonwovens, lubricants and
release agents. In addition, the Group has a presence in household
products with the strong Vileda(R) brand and in building systems
with Nora(R) brand rubber floor coverings as well as operating
several service companies. The Freudenberg Group employs over
33,000 people in 53 countries and generates sales of some 5 billion
Euros. DATASOURCE: Dow Corning CONTACT: Gary Lord of Dow Corning,
+336-80-594675, ; or Bruce Hokanson of Loomis Group for Dow
Corning, +1-360-574-4000,
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