Burner & Flame Technology is proud to be at the forefront of manufacturing and developing flame treatment technologies. Plastics have an ever-widening range of uses in almost every field and, with 15 years’ experience and specialist knowledge, BFT is continually evolving its equipment and processes to meet clients’ requirements at every stage.
Why flame treat plastic?
Flame treatment has a vast array of applications within industry but for many of BFT’s clients it is a simple matter of being able to satisfactorily print or label brand or other identification information onto plastic containers (typically polyethylene and polypropylene). One of plastic’s strengths as a material – its resistance to chemical attack – presents a challenge when some form of painting or bonding is necessary. When applying a liquid to untreated plastic, it is usually clearly visible that it has formed separate droplets rather than given the even coverage required for strong, effective adhesion.
This is caused by the balance between the surface energy of the material, measured in dynes, and the surface tension properties – or wettability – measured in dynes/cm. To attain a uniform wet layer, the liquid’s dyne level must be lower than the plastic’s surface energy. Flame treating plastics alters their surface properties and allows this to happen.
How is this achieved?
A flame applied to the plastic surface at the correct intensity imparts oxygen into its molecular layers, thereby increasing the surface energy and raising the dyne level.
Dyne levels of untreated common plastics vary significantly (from the 20s into the mid-40s) so it is vital that the oxygen content as well as the volume and angle of the flame is suited to the job at hand. The team at BFT has a great depth of knowledge and experience at making the subtle alterations necessary for optimum results, as well as an extensive range of different burners and flame treatment systems to call and build on. Whatever the required shape and scale, high-quality equipment that will ensure a laminar flow flame without distortion is essential for effective application.
Which tool for the job?
BFT can offer high-intensity single-row, double-row and multi-port ribbon burners up to a length, dependent on individual customer requirements, of 1.5 metres. The company also has a comprehensive range of ring burners for efficient, consistent surface treatment of pipes and containers. The type of burner used within the ring is tailored to each customer and specific purpose, as is the ring configuration – fully enclosed or open to allow access. BFT has the expertise to create the right solution whatever the application.
Precise and safe control of the burners is always crucial when surface flaming, and BFT provides injectors and needle valves matched to the volumetric demands of the selected burners for ultra-sensitive control and a consistent flame at every setting and intensity. Additionally, burners can be supplied with or without continual spark ignition, which operates as a sensor/failure device, as required.
