Method for using pulsed optical energy to increase the bondability of a surface
US5512123A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 2, 1994 |
| Grant date | Apr 30, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 2, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29C2035/0827
- WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method and system for improving the capability of a surface of an organic structure to bond with another material includes irradiating a target area of the surface of a structure with pulsed, incoherent optical energy having wavelength components which range from 160-5000 nanometers at an intensity sufficient to photodecompose any adventitious organic substances on the surface and to photodecompose a thin layer of molecular bonds forming the surface of the structure; and exposing the target area of the surface to ionized gas that chemically reacts with the target area of the surface to increase the surface free energy of the surface. A similar method and system may also be employed to improve the bondability of a metallic surface by first precleaning the metallic surface to dislodge any inorganic substances from the surface; and second irradiating a target area of the surface with pulsed, incoherent optical energy having wavelength components in the range of 160-5000 nanometers at an intensity sufficient to photodecompose any organic substances present on the surface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.