阅读说明：本技术 表面制备 (Surface preparation ) 是由 D·道林 J·N·巴里 于 2018-11-02 设计创作，主要内容包括：具有原始表面(110)的复合材料(104)的表面制备方法(200),材料(104)包括基体(104b)内的纤维(104a),所述方法包括通过等离子体消融去除(204)基体(104b)的表面部分,以露出并活化(206)新表面(120)并在其上暴露出多根纤维(104a)的至少一部分,而不产生残留的热影响区。(A method (200) of surface preparation of a composite material (104) having an original surface (110), the material (104) comprising fibers (104a) within a matrix (104b), the method comprising removing (204) a surface portion of the matrix (104b) by plasma ablation to expose and activate (206) a new surface (120) and expose thereon at least a portion of the plurality of fibers (104a) without creating a residual heat affected zone.)

1. A method of preparing a surface of a composite material having an original surface, the material comprising fibres within a matrix, the method comprising removing surface portions of the matrix by plasma ablation to expose and activate a new surface, wherein at least a portion of the fibres are exposed thereon without creating a residual heat affected zone.

2. The surface preparation method of claim 1, further comprising controlling the plasma ablation to maintain a low ionized gas flow, optionally below 3000l/h at 1 bar, to increase the amount of plasma reactive species per volume of plasma.

3. A method of preparing a surface of a composite material having an original surface, the material comprising fibres within a matrix, the method comprising removing surface portions of the matrix by plasma ablation to expose and activate a new surface on which at least a portion of the fibres are exposed, the method comprising using an ionised gas flow of less than 3000l/h at a pressure of 1 bar.

4. The method of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising controlling the plasma ablation to perform at least one of:

(i) maintaining the temperature of the non-ablated material below a threshold temperature above which reflow can occur;

(ii) maintaining a processing speed sufficiently slow to complete the surface treatment and sufficiently fast to avoid thermal damage;

(iii) managing the ion gas flow and plasma cycle time to allow the use of 22-25kHz plasma power without thermal damage to the material;

(iv) maintaining the nozzle height sufficiently close to the material, optionally less than 9mm, to enable the material to be ablated; and

(v) avoiding damage to the fibres.

5. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein plasma ablation is performed at about 1 bar using an ionized gas flow of 1800-2200l/h, wherein optionally plasma ablation is performed using a plasma cycle time of between 50% and 85%.

6. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein plasma ablation is performed using a plasma power of 22-25 kHz.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein plasma ablation is performed by using a plasma nozzle located between 2mm and 10mm from the material, preferably between 6mm and 8mm from the material.

8. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein plasma ablation is performed using a voltage of 212 and 309V.

9. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein plasma ablation is performed using a treatment speed of 50-60 mm/s.

10. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the fibres comprise any one or more of carbon fibres, glass fibres, aramid fibres, basalt fibres and/or metal based fibres.

11. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the matrix is a polymer matrix, such as an epoxy resin.

12. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising using a primer configured to adhere to the activated surface and form a layer thereon, the primer optionally comprising a curable adhesive.

13. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising monitoring a plasma ablation process and adjusting one or more plasma processing parameters accordingly, wherein the plasma processing parameters can include one or more of: temperature, voltage, PCT, plasma power, ionized gas flow rate, and process speed, optionally using at least one of emission spectroscopy and plasma acoustics.

14. The method of any preceding claim, wherein at least 100 μ ι η depth of matrix is removed from the original surface to expose a new surface.

15. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein a sufficient depth of matrix is removed from the original surface to fully expose one or more fibers such that the fully exposed fibers are separated and removed from the composite material.

16. A system for generating and activating a surface of a composite material having an original surface, the material comprising fibers within a matrix, the system comprising a plasma generator configured to generate a plasma, wherein the plasma is configured to remove a surface portion of the matrix by plasma ablation to expose at least a portion of the plurality of fibers within the matrix without creating a residual heat affected zone, thereby exposing and activating a new surface of the composite material.

17. A system for generating and activating a surface of a composite material having an original surface, the material comprising fibres within a matrix, the system comprising a plasma generator arranged to generate a plasma, wherein the plasma is arranged to remove a surface portion of the matrix by plasma ablation to expose at least a portion of a plurality of fibres within the matrix to expose and activate a new surface of the composite material, the system being arranged to provide an ionised gas flow of less than 3000l/h at a pressure of 1 bar.

18. The system of claim 16 or 17, wherein the system further comprises a monitoring unit arranged to provide feedback on the plasma ablation process so as to allow adjustment of plasma processing parameters, and wherein optionally the monitoring unit comprises at least one of an Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) unit and a plasma acoustic unit.

19. The system of claim 18, comprising an OES unit, and wherein a probe of the OES unit is directed at a working area of the composite material.

20. The system of claim 18 or 19, comprising an OES unit, and wherein the probe of the OES unit is configured to be at least one of:

(i) an angle of 30 ° to 60 ° with respect to the plasma source; and

(ii) at least substantially parallel to and flush with the original surface of the material.

21. An object comprising a composite of two parts joined at an interface between the surfaces of each part, wherein at least one surface is prepared using the method of any one of claims 1 to 15 prior to joining.