Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Mazda Motor Corporation

Larry Paul Haack

Ann Marie Straccia

Joseph W Holubka

Steven J Simko

Kimberly Ann Lazarz

Joy Hines Forsmark

Matthew John Zaluzec

Thomas George Murray

Kazuhisa To

Sabrina Louise Peczonczyk

Shannon Christine Bollin

Patricia Karen Konopka

Joe Holubka

An assembly and a method of joining a first part with a second part at an attachment area that includes a localized area on the first part. The localized area is cleaned and activated by a plasma jet. An organosilicon composition is applied by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition to the localized area. An adhesive is applied to the localized area and the second part is mechanically fastened to the first part in the localized area.

Assembly and method of pretreating localized areas of parts for joining

A plasma vapor deposited (PVD) coating method. The method includes overlaying a primer polymer layer onto a substrate surface. The method further includes overlaying a chrome metallic layer onto the primer polymer. The method also includes depositing a plasma vapor deposited (PVD) oxide layer of a thickness of 1 to 5 nanometers onto the chrome metallic layer and having a parameter of color change of the underlying chrome metallic layer. The color change may be determined according to the following equation:&#x394;=&#x221a;{square root over ((&#x394;*)+(&#x394;*)+(&#x394;*))}L is the color brightness of the oxide layer, and a and b are the color-component dimensions of the oxide and metallic layers. &#x394;E*may be less than 2.3. The method further includes overlaying an exposed polymeric layer onto the PVD oxide layer to form a protective layer at the interface between the exposed polymeric layer and the oxide layer.

Plasma vapor deposited (PVD) coating process

Methods and systems are disclosed for analyzing the adhesiveness of enamel frits using topography. One method includes analyzing a topography of a defined area of an enamel frit surface having a plurality of peaks and determining a topographical parameter of the defined area based on peak shape and/or density. The determined topographical parameter may be compared to a threshold value. The method may then include applying an adhesive to the enamel frit and bonding the enamel frit to a substrate if the determined topographical parameter is below the threshold value. The analysis of the topography may be performed using a non-contact profilometer, such as an optical profilometer. In one embodiment, the topographical parameter may be developed interfacial roughness (S). The method may be integrated into a manufacturing/assembly line for vehicle glass components, such as windshields or side windows.

Methods to control adhesiveness using topography

An article is disclosed that includes a metallic layer overlaying a substrate surface; a plasma vapor deposited (PVD) oxide layer overlaying the metallic layer; and an exposed polymeric layer overlaying the oxide layer to form a protective layer at the interface between the exposed polymeric layer and the oxide layer.

Articles, including wheels, having plasma vapor deposited (PVD) coating

A structural polymer insert. The insert includes a substrate having a surface and an adhesive with the substrate being an admixture of a polypropylene component and a glass fiber component. The surface has a plurality of oxygen atoms, optionally introduced by air plasma, in an amount of 1 to 60 atomic percent of all the atoms present on the surface. The foam adhesive is attached to the surface through one or more reactive moieties resulted from oxidative action of the oxygen atoms.

Structural polymer insert and method of making the same

A method of coating a substrate surface. The method includes plasma spraying a direct-spray component onto a substrate surface, and plasma spraying an over-spray component onto the substrate surface. The direct-spray and over-spray components form a plasma coating surface contacting at least a portion of the substrate surface.

Plasma coatings and method of making the same

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.

Environmentally friendly reactive fixture to allow localized surface engineering for improved adhesion to coated and non-coated substrates

According to at least one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for forming a polymerized coating on a surface of a substrate. In at least one embodiment, the method comprises providing a plasma gun having an outlet; introducing a pre-polymer molecule into the outlet of the plasma gun to form a number of fragments of the pre-polymer molecule as a plasma output including a direct-spray component and an over-spray component; at least partially isolating the direct-spray component and the over-spray component from each other to respectively obtain an isolated directed-spray component and an isolated over-spray component; and depositing at least a portion of the isolated direct-spray component and the isolated over-spray component onto the surface of the substrate through the outlet to form a base polymerized coating. The plasma gun is optionally operated at atmospheric pressure.

According to at least one aspect of the present invention, a coated substrate surface is provided. In at least one embodiment, the coated substrate surface includes a substrate surface, and a high-velocity impact polymer reaction coating for promoting adhesive bonding, the coating having first and second opposing surfaces, the first opposing surface being adjacent to the substrate surface. In at least another embodiment, the high-velocity impact polymer reaction coating is formed by depositing a polymer reaction compound onto the substrate surface with a high-velocity impact device at a velocity in the range of 10 to 200 meters per second, the polymer reaction compound being formed from substantially random fragmentation of prepolymer molecules.

Method of coating a substrate for adhesive bonding

A system is provided for plasma treating a plastic component having an exterior surface and an inside surface. The system comprises at least one fixture. The fixture includes a support structure, a plurality of locating features, and a plurality of holding devices which cooperate to position a portion of the exterior surface to within a specified tolerance. The system further comprises at least one APAP nozzle configured to move relative to the exterior surface along a path, wherein the APAP nozzle directs a plasma jet onto the portion producing a functionalized polymer layer covering the portion.

System for plasma treating a plastic component

A method of treating a glass substrate for bonding. The method includes providing a glass substrate having a fritted portion of a ceramic frit material and a non-fritted portion. At least a portion of the fritted portion includes a bondable surface. The method further includes cleaning and activating the bondable surface for subsequent bonding. The cleaning and bonding steps are carried out by applying an air plasma to the bondable surface.

Method of treating substrates for bonding

A method for depositing a coating onto a glass substrate for adhesive bonding. The process comprises depositing a coating where the surface is cleaned during a first time period, and depositing a high-velocity impact polymer reaction coating on the surface at ambient air pressure during a second time period using an atmospheric pressure air plasma. The coated glass can be bonded using a CASE compound, consisting of coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers, and combinations thereof. The opposing surface of the CASE compound is adjacent to a frame, such as an automotive vehicle windshield flange.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Larry Paul Haack