Germany's Freudenberg Forschungsdienste KG Licenses Dow Corning Plasma Solutions' Deposition Technology

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, [phone],

; or Bruce Hokanson of Loomis Group for Dow Corning,

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