New Technology for Metal Surface Pretreatment
New technologies for metal surface pretreatment are developed based on traditional processes and combined with modern science and technology to create efficient, environmentally friendly, and precise treatment technologies. These technologies aim to overcome the severe pollution, low efficiency, and limited treatment effects inherent in traditional processes, while meeting the increasingly stringent demands of modern industry for metal surface quality. With increasingly stringent environmental regulations and the continuous upgrading of industrial production, traditional chemical pretreatment processes are limited by the large amounts of wastewater and exhaust gas they generate, while mechanical pretreatment processes suffer from low efficiency and poor treatment effects on complex surfaces. Therefore, the development and application of new technologies for metal surface pretreatment have become an inevitable trend in the industry. These new technologies not only improve treatment quality and efficiency, but also reduce environmental impact, offering broad application prospects.
Laser surface pretreatment technology is a new type of physical pretreatment technology that has developed rapidly in recent years. It uses high-energy laser beams to irradiate metal surfaces to achieve a variety of treatment effects such as rust removal, degreasing, and activation. Laser rust removal uses the high temperature of the laser to instantly evaporate or decompose rust. It has the advantages of being contactless, highly precise, and free of pollutant emissions. It is suitable for applications such as precision parts and cultural relic restoration that have strict requirements on surface damage. Laser degreasing uses the energy of the laser to evaporate or decompose grease by heating, which can effectively remove oil stains from the surface of complex structures. In addition, laser pretreatment can also change the microstructure of the metal surface, improving surface hardness and wear resistance. The key to laser surface pretreatment technology is to control parameters such as laser power, wavelength, and scanning speed to achieve the best treatment effect. It has been applied in aerospace, automotive manufacturing and other fields.
Plasma surface pretreatment technology utilizes high-energy particles in plasma to undergo physical and chemical reactions with metal surfaces, achieving surface cleaning, activation, and etching. Plasma is an ionized gas with high energy and chemical activity. It can remove impurities such as oil and oxide layers from surfaces, and form active groups on the surface, improving surface wettability and adhesion. Plasma pretreatment can be divided into low-temperature plasma and high-temperature plasma treatment. Low-temperature plasma treatment is suitable for temperature-sensitive materials, such as metal surface pretreatment for polymer coatings, while high-temperature plasma can be used to remove stubborn scale and rust. This technology offers advantages such as high processing speed, zero pollution, and the ability to process complex surfaces. It is widely used in industries such as electronics and medical devices.
Ultrasonic composite pretreatment technology is a novel hybrid technique that combines ultrasonic technology with traditional chemical or mechanical pretreatment processes. It enhances the pretreatment effect through the cavitation effect, mechanical vibration, and thermal effects of ultrasound. For example, in ultrasonic degreasing and rust removal, the cavitation effect of ultrasound generates a large number of tiny bubbles. The impact force generated by the bubbles’ collapse accelerates the removal of oil and rust, while also promoting the penetration of chemical solutions and improving degreasing and rust removal efficiency. Ultrasonic-assisted phosphating treatments can make the phosphate film more uniform and dense, enhancing its corrosion resistance. Ultrasonic composite pretreatment technology not only shortens treatment time and reduces the amount of chemical reagents used, but also improves treatment uniformity. It is particularly suitable for the pretreatment of complex workpieces and has important applications in automotive parts, hardware, and other fields.
Intelligent pretreatment technology is a new type of pretreatment technology that combines automation, information technology, and intelligent technologies. It uses sensors, computer control systems, and robotics to automate and precisely process the pretreatment process. Intelligent pretreatment systems monitor various process parameters, such as solution concentration, temperature, and treatment time, in real time and automatically adjust them according to preset process requirements, ensuring stable and consistent treatment results. For example, intelligent sandblasting systems use visual sensors to detect the workpiece surface condition and automatically adjust the sandblasting pressure, angle, and speed to achieve personalized treatment. Intelligent chemical pretreatment systems use online analyzers to monitor solution composition in real time and automatically replenish reagents to maintain optimal solution concentration. Intelligent pretreatment technology not only improves production efficiency and treatment quality, but also reduces manual errors and labor intensity, representing the future development direction of metal surface pretreatment. With the continuous integration of technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data, intelligent pretreatment systems will become more intelligent and adaptive, bringing revolutionary changes to the metal surface treatment industry.
