Created on 08.31
How to Improve Adhesion on Laminated and UV-Coated Packaging with Plasma Treatment
A packaging manufacturer may have a good adhesive, a reliable gluing machine, and a stable production process — but the finished product can still experience weak bonding.
One common reason is the surface itself.
Laminated, UV-coated, metallized, and other low-wettability surfaces can make adhesive bonding difficult.
KQ Plasma Surface Treatment technology is designed to address this problem before the adhesive is applied.
The Customer Problem: Glue Does Not Stick Well
A typical production problem looks like this:
Apply Glue
↓
Product Looks Normal
↓
Bonding Strength Is Weak
↓
Product Separates
This can result in:
- Bond failure
- Product rejection
- Rework
- Customer complaints
- Increased adhesive consumption
The first reaction may be to use a more expensive specialty adhesive.
However, the underlying problem may be poor surface wettability.
KQ's plasma materials identify plastic laminated, UV ink, metallized film-coated, and glass surfaces as examples where conventional adhesive bonding can be difficult.
Why Is Surface Wettability Important?
For an adhesive to form a strong bond, it needs to spread effectively across the product surface.
A low-energy surface may cause the adhesive to remain poorly distributed.
The result can be weak bonding.
Plasma treatment changes the surface characteristics before adhesive application.
KQ Plasma Surface Treatment Solution
The basic production process becomes:
Laminated / UV-Coated Surface
↓
Plasma Surface Treatment
↓
Increased Surface Energy
↓
Improved Wettability
↓
Adhesive Application
↓
Improved Bonding
KQ's documented plasma technology describes surface cleaning, modification, and chemical functionalization as part of the activation process.
What Does Plasma Treatment Do?
According to KQ's technical material, plasma activation can perform several functions.
1. Surface Cleaning
Plasma can remove organic contaminants and weak boundary layers from the surface.
2. Surface Modification
The process can modify the surface characteristics and create microstructures that support adhesion.
3. Chemical Functionalization
Plasma can introduce functional groups onto the surface, increasing surface energy and wettability.
The practical objective is simple:
Make the surface easier for the adhesive to bond to.
Customer Problem: Expensive Specialty Glue
Some manufacturers respond to poor adhesion by changing to specially formulated adhesive.
This may solve the bonding problem, but it can increase material cost.
KQ's plasma solution provides another option:
Treat the surface first → improve wettability → evaluate whether conventional adhesive can be used.
KQ's technical material specifically identifies the ability to use conventional glue instead of specialized glue as one potential advantage of plasma treatment.
Actual adhesive selection must still be validated through testing.
Customer Problem: Traditional Grinding Creates Dust
Another traditional approach is mechanical grinding.
The process can:
- Remove the laminated surface
- Generate dust or powder
- Require vacuum equipment
- Potentially damage the paper
- Consume additional power
KQ positions plasma treatment as a powderless surface-treatment alternative.
Plasma Treatment for Folder Gluing
One important KQ application is folder gluing.
The application includes:
- Metallized carton boxes
- Laminated carton boxes
- Surfaces where hot melt adhesive may have difficulty bonding
The plasma treatment can be installed in the production line before adhesive application.
This makes plasma particularly relevant when a packaging manufacturer says:
"The machine works, the glue is correct, but the carton still does not bond reliably."
The solution may need to address the surface rather than simply increase glue consumption.
Plasma Treatment for Glass
Glass is another surface where plasma treatment can be considered.
KQ's documented application uses plasma treatment before adhesive application to improve bonding strength.
Plasma Treatment Before Printing
The same surface-treatment technology can also be used before printing.
KQ identifies potential benefits including:
- Reduced print smearing
- More durable printing
- Increased print contrast
Therefore, plasma is not limited to adhesive applications.
Choosing the Right Plasma Nozzle
KQ provides different nozzle configurations for different applications.
Examples include:
Rotary Nozzle
Designed for applications including:
- Inkjet printing
- Glass
- 3D printing
- Wood processing
- Furniture
The documented treatment width is approximately 40–54 mm, with treatment speed around 40 m/min in the specified configuration.
Ultra-Speed Ion Jet Nozzle
Designed for applications such as:
- Laminated surfaces
- UV-coated surfaces
- Preventing bond failure
The documented treatment speed reaches up to 120 m/min in the specified configuration.
The final nozzle selection should be based on the customer's material and production requirements.
KQ Problem-Solving Process
When a customer reports poor adhesive bonding, KQ can analyze:
- What material is being bonded?
- Is the surface laminated or coated?
- What adhesive is being used?
- What is the production speed?
- Where does bonding failure occur?
- Is surface treatment required?
- Which plasma nozzle is appropriate?
This creates a problem-solving process rather than simply selling a plasma machine.
Conclusion
Poor adhesive bonding is not always caused by insufficient glue.
For laminated, UV-coated, metallized, glass, and other difficult-to-bond surfaces, surface energy and wettability can be important factors.
KQ Plasma Surface Treatment technology provides an automated surface-activation approach that can be integrated before adhesive application.
For manufacturers experiencing repeated bonding failures, high specialty-adhesive costs, or dust problems from mechanical grinding, plasma treatment can be evaluated as an alternative surface-treatment solution.
Ryan Liu
KQ Overseas Sales Representative
Website: https://www.besthotmeltmachine.com
Email: lc@keqi-auto.com
Tel / WhatsApp / WeChat: +86 18925560856
We are committed to excellence in everything we do and look forward to working with you!
We are committed to excellence in everything we do and look forward to working with you!
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+86 181 0293 8927
+86 189 2556 0856
+86 181 0293 8927
+86 189 2556 0856
luna@keqi-auto.com
lc@keqi-auto.com
luna@keqi-auto.com
lc@keqi-auto.com
No.8 Jinniu Street, Taigongling, Dalingshan Town, Dongguan City, Guangdong Province
No.8 Jinniu Street, Taigongling, Dalingshan Town, Dongguan City, Guangdong Province
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+86 181 0293 8927
+86 1892556 0856
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