Environmentally friendly reactive fixture to allow localized surface engineering for improved adhesion to coated and non-coated substrates
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsJoseph Holubka, Larry Haack, Ann Straccia
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method of increasing the surface energy of an article having a polymeric surface increasing the relative amount of nitrogen atoms or oxygen atoms within a portion of the surface to form a nitrogen or oxygen enriched surface layer. The method of the invention is advantageously applied to a vehicle body frame to facilitate adhesion of a windshield. In another embodiment of the invention a method for inhibiting sealer redeposition is provided in which a plastic component in an automobile is treated prior to being subjected to the various paint preprocessing baths.
Claims33
A method of increasing the surface energy of a polymeric component, the polymeric component comprising a polymer having carbon atoms and at least one of oxygen and nitrogen atoms and having a surface layer with a first surface energy and a surface with a first contact angle, the method comprising:
- a) increasing the relative amount of nitrogen atoms or oxygen atoms within a portion of the surface layer of the polymer to form a nitrogen or oxygen enriched surface layer with a second surface energy, wherein the second surface energy is at least 10% greater than the first surface energy and the second contact angle is at least 10% lower than the first contact angle.
A method of inhibiting sealer redeposition during processing of a vehicle frame having welded seams overcoated with a sealer, the method comprising:
- a) providing a polymeric component within a vehicle frame comprising a polymer having carbon atoms and at least one of oxygen and nitrogen atoms and having a surface layer with a first surface energy and a surface with a first contact angle, the method comprising;
- b) increasing the relative amount of nitrogen atoms or oxygen atoms within a portion of the surface layer of the polymer to form a nitrogen or oxygen enriched surface layer with a second surface energy, wherein the second surface energy is at least 10% greater than the first surface energy and the second contact angle is at least 10% lower than the first contact angle;
- c) exposing the vehicle frame to one or more paint pretreatment baths;
- and
- d) rinsing the vehicle frame with water, wherein depositing of sealer residue on the polymeric component is inhibited.
A method of improving the adhesion of glass to portions of a vehicle frame, the method comprising:
- a) providing a painted vehicle frame having a paint layer comprising a polymer having carbon atoms and at least one of oxygen and nitrogen atoms and having a surface layer with a first surface energy and a surface with a first contact angle, the method comprising;
- b) increasing the relative amount of nitrogen atoms or oxygen atoms within a portion of the surface layer of the polymer to form a nitrogen or oxygen enriched surface layer with a second surface energy, wherein the second surface energy is at least 10% greater than the first surface energy and the second contact angle is at least 10% lower than the first contact angle;
- and
- c) adhering a piece of glass to the vehicle frame with an adhesive.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.