This story was produced by the UW Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Researchers in UW Mechanical Engineering's Composite Materials & Manufacturing Lab, led by Assistant Professor Aniruddh Vashisth, are using plasma to synthesize new materials and to treat composite surfaces so they bond more reliably, offering a gentler alternative to acid or flame treatments.
With JCATI funding, the team is partnering with Mukilteo-based aerospace manufacturer Electroimpact to test whether plasma treatment applied during automated fiber placement can produce stronger aerospace composite parts. The work is housed at the UW Advanced Composites Center.
Researchers developed a controlled setup that combines robotics with a 16-nozzle plasma system to treat complex geometries. The system can treat the entire surface of a large part in minutes. Photo provided by Sam Pedigo.