Environmentally friendly reactive fixture to allow localized surface engineering for improved adhesion to coated and non-coated substrates
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsJoseph Walter Holubka, Larry P. Haack, Ann Straccia
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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.
Claims19
A method of increasing the surface energy of a polymer surface layer including a first surface energy and a polymer having carbon, oxygen and nitrogen atoms, the method comprising:
- exposing the surface layer to an ultraviolet C or B light source having an energy ranging from 19.6 Joules to 39.2 Joules to form a nitrogen and oxygen enriched surface layer with a second surface energy at least 10% greater than the first surface energy, the nitrogen and oxygen enriched surface layer having an at least 10 percent increase in oxygen-to-carbon (0/C) and an at least 25 percent increase in nitrogen-to-carbon (N/C);
- and
- positioning the ultraviolet C or B light source in a predetermined out-of-focus position, the ultraviolet C or B light source being installed with end reflectors.
A method of inhibiting sealer redeposition during processing of a vehicle frame having welded seams over coated with a sealer, the method comprising:
- providing a polymeric component within a vehicle frame having a surface layer including a first surface energy and a polymer having carbon, oxygen and nitrogen atoms;
- exposing the surface layer to an ultraviolet C or B light source having an energy ranging from 19.6 Joules to 39.2 to form a nitrogen and oxygen enriched surface layer, the nitrogen and oxygen enriched surface layer having a second surface energy at least 10% greater than the first surface energy and an at least 10 percent increase in oxygen-to-carbon (O/C) and an at least 25 percent increase in nitrogen-to-carbon (N/C);
- positioning the ultraviolet C or B light source in a predetermined out-of-focus position, the ultraviolet C or B light source being installed with end reflectors;
- exposing the vehicle frame to one or more paint pretreatment baths;
- and
- rinsing the vehicle frame with water, wherein depositing of sealer residue on the polymeric component is inhibited.
A method of improving adhesion, the method comprising:
- providing a painted vehicle frame having a paint layer including a surface layer, the surface layer including a first surface energy and a polymer having carbon, oxygen and nitrogen atoms, and
- exposing the surface layer to an ultraviolet C or B light source having an energy ranging from 19.6 Joules to 39.2 Joules to form a nitrogen and oxygen enriched surface layer, the nitrogen and oxygen enriched surface layer having a second surface energy at least 10% greater than the first surface energy and an at least 5 percent increase in oxygen-to-carbon (O/C) and an at least 25 percent increase in nitrogen-to-carbon (N/C);
- and
- positioning the ultraviolet C or B light source in a predetermined out-of-focus position, the ultraviolet C or B light source being installed with end reflectors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.