US2016215377A1PendingUtilityA1

Methods for Plasma Treatment on a Can Component, Feedstock & Tooling

38
Assignee: REXAM BEVERAGE CAN COPriority: Jan 22, 2015Filed: Jan 22, 2015Published: Jul 28, 2016
Est. expiryJan 22, 2035(~8.5 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:David StoneTimothy Wenckus
B65D 25/14B65D 1/12C23C 4/127C23C 4/134C23C 4/02B65D 2517/0092C23C 16/513B65D 2517/0071B65D 2517/0014B65D 2517/007
38
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Claims

Abstract

Methods are disclosed for applying a protective layer to a can component and for modifying surface properties of a can component, feedstock or tooling. An example method involves: (a) directing a precursor plasma plume at a surface of a can component via at least one precursor plasma gun, where the precursor plasma plume includes an ionized gas and an ionized precursor and (b) treating at least a portion of the surface of the can component with the precursor plasma plume and thereby forming a first layer on the portion of the surface of the can component treated with the precursor plasma plume.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method, comprising:
 directing a precursor plasma plume at a surface of a can component via at least one precursor plasma gun, wherein the precursor plasma plume comprises an ionized gas and an ionized precursor; and   treating at least a portion of the surface of the can component with the precursor plasma plume and thereby forming a first layer on the portion of the surface of the can component treated with the precursor plasma plume.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 directing a precursor-free plasma plume at the surface of the can component via at least one precursor-free plasma gun, wherein the precursor-free plasma plume comprises an ionized gas; and   treating at least a portion of the surface of the can component with the precursor-free plasma plume.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 removing at least one contaminant or secondary material present on the portion of the surface of the can component treated with the precursor-free plasma plume.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 raising or lowering the surface energy of the portion of the surface of the can component treated with either the precursor-free plasma plume or the precursor plasma plume.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 adding functional groups to the portion of the surface of the can component treated with either the precursor-free plasma plume or the precursor plasma plume.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer is at least one atom thick. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 energizing the at least one precursor plasma gun with an electric potential of at least about 5,000 volts.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one precursor plasma gun has a nozzle outlet and the nozzle outlet is arranged at least about 0.1 mm to about 1 cm away from the surface of the can component during treatment. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein treating at least the portion of the surface of the can component with the precursor plasma plume comprises flowing a precursor plasma from the precursor plasma plume along a contour of the surface of the can component. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the can component is a sidewall coupled to a bottom surface that defines a dome and a rim, wherein directing the precursor plasma plume at the surface of the can component via the at least one precursor plasma gun comprises directing the precursor plasma plume at the dome, and wherein treating at least the portion of the surface of the can component with the precursor plasma plume comprises flowing a precursor plasma from the precursor plasma plume along the dome such that the first layer is formed on the dome. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the can component is a sidewall coupled to a bottom surface that defines a dome and a rim, wherein directing the precursor plasma plume at the surface of the can component via the at least one precursor plasma gun comprises directing the precursor plasma plume at the rim, and wherein treating at least the portion of the surface of the can component with the precursor plasma plume comprises flowing a precursor plasma from the precursor plasma plume along the rim, the dome and a portion of the sidewall such that the first layer is formed on the rim, the dome and the portion of the sidewall. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one precursor plasma plume is a single precursor plasma plume, wherein a footprint of the single precursor plasma plume is sized to match a footprint of the can component. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 rotating the can component 360 degrees in a path of a single precursor plasma plume.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 tracing a score on the surface of a can component with the precursor plasma plume.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 tracing a score on the surface of a can component with the precursor-free plasma plume.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one precursor plasma plume comprises a plurality of precursor plasma plumes spaced apart from each other and each directed at a target portion of the surface of the can component. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the can component comprises aluminum. 
     
     
         18 . A can component treated according to the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . A method, comprising:
 directing a precursor-free plasma plume at a surface of a can component via at least one precursor-free plasma gun, wherein the precursor-free plasma plume comprises an ionized gas, wherein the surface of the can component is contoured or has a score; and   treating at least a portion of the surface of the can component with the precursor-free plasma plume.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 after treating the portion of the surface of the can component with the precursor-free plasma plume, directing a precursor plasma plume at the surface of the can component via at least one precursor plasma gun, wherein the precursor plasma plume comprises an ionized gas and an ionized precursor; and   treating the portion of the surface of the can component with the precursor plasma plume and thereby forming a first layer on the portion of the surface of the can component treated with the precursor plasma plume.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 removing at least one contaminant or secondary material present on the portion of the surface of the can component treated with the precursor-free plasma plume.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 raising or lowering the surface energy of the portion of the surface of the can component treated with the precursor-free plasma plume.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 adding functional groups to the portion of the surface of the can component treated with the precursor-free plasma plume.   
     
     
         24 . A can component treated according to the method of  claim 19 . 
     
     
         25 .- 45 . (canceled)

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