Oxford Advanced Surfaces, leading manufacturer of surface modification treatments to address material challenges in the automotive, aerospace, communications, electronics, and renewable energy markets, has developed techniques for bonding coatings and paints to carbon fibre composites, using Onto surface modification.

Surface modification is the act of modifying the surface of a material by bringing physical, chemical or biological characteristics different from the ones originally found on the surface of a material.

Onto surface treatments provide a simple and practical solution for bonding coatings and paints to carbon fibre composites. Onto can reduce the extent of the sanding stage and in some cases replace it, decreasing the risk of substrate damage from over sanding as well as drastically reducing the time and effort required to prepare the surface for coating.

All Onto treatments require a short curing step for activation of the reactive component. Many of the treatments are coloured but become colourless on heating, helping the user to easily identify when the curing step has been completed. The coated layer of Onto material is extremely thin, allowing the visual aspects of the underlying substrate to be unaffected, according to a press release.

From bumpers and spoilers to dashboards and steering wheels, carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) is becoming increasingly used in the design of automotive components. Not only is it strong and rigid, it is also light weight, helping to maximise the performance and fuel efficiency of the vehicle and lowering emissions.

Semi-crystalline thermoplastics are highly resistant to chemicals and cannot usually be bonded to without some kind of surface treatment. Onto surface treatments can prepare even the most chemically resistant materials for bonding, ensuring that coatings do not delaminate from the substrate over time and enables to create innovative products with the advanced materials of any choice. (GK)