Sortex - plasma treatment of textiles
Beginning of 2008 Softal delivered the largest Corona Station ever. The dimensions of approx. 8m length, 4m width, 6m height and a weight of approx. 20,000 kg make this the largest atmospheric pressure plasma treatment machine in the world. Besides cutting-edge electrode technology, this machine is equipped with several drive units with web guiding sensors, as well as tailor-made control technology for all relevant production parameters. The installed plasma output comes up to a total of 100 kW, which is distributed onto approx. 100 specially designed electrodes. The production line will be put into operation in March.
The machine is currently being installed as first process stage of a production line at Richter F&A Company, based in Stadtallendorf. It is designed for surface activation of combed top wool, making Softal the company to provide the largest single machine for atmospheric pressure plasma treatment of the outer and inner surface of fiber strands worldwide. The applied technology is brand new and tailor-made for the thermally highly sensitive fibers. The new wool treatment technology replaces the up to now common wet-chemical process step which includes a plasma discharge in the air.
The motivation to develop plasma-based surface activation of wool fibers stems from the need to replace the wet-chemical treatment which requires a hypochlorite solution with a more economical and eco-friendly method. The groundbreaking work for this new process was carried out as part of a research project sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and by the European Union. Several companies and research institutes contributed to the success.
