imm cologne 2018

•••9••• Innovationen Coating decorative lm for furniture New process line “atmoFlex” enables fragile and extremely thin vacuum-deposited layers F ilms used for a wide range of applications can be coated with a new process line called “at- moFlex”, from decorative film for furniture to permeation barriers for food packaging and organic electronics. Specialized modifica- tions to the conveyor design per- mit the utilization of both smooth and textured films so that either high-gloss surfaces or decorative finishes can be produced for fur- nishings, for example. “AtmoFlex considerably broad- ens the spectrum of our services. It will enable fragile and extreme- ly thin vacuum-deposited layers to be protected by coatings ap- plied directly at normal atmos- pheric pressure, for example. These types of combined layers are even reliable enough for out- door use,” explains Dr. Steffen Günther, group manager responsi- ble for the research at Fraunhofer FEP. High temperatures normally necessary for drying coatings can impair very thin substrate films. An alternative drying and curing process is therefore employed in atmoFlex. This new process uses electron beams for curing coat- ings as well as for surface treat- ment. The electron beams are even able to penetrate a protec- tive film applied over top and cure the layers beneath. Processing un- der clean-room conditions to keep layers free of particulates is there- fore not necessary. Coating other flexible substrates But the new process line is capable of treating not only plastic films. It is also available for coating other flexible substrates such as metal foil, thin glass, and textiles. Sub- strates widths up to 1,250 mm can be processed at speeds of up to 150 m/min. The modular charac- ter of the process line also offers sufficient adaptability for integrat- ing future technological advance- ments and researching new pro- cesses. The new plant has recently been fitted with a web cleaning system. Contaminants already pre- sent on substrate films can be ef- fectively removed this way. With the new process line, 1,200 mm-wide slot die for contactless coating of fragile substra- te can be heated up to 50 °C. Photo: Fraunhofer FEP / Jürgen Lösel