Enzymatic treatment replacing plasma

Most polymer materials possess hydrophobic surfaces. Further treatments of such hydrophobic surfaces by coating, painting or gluing require a selective surface activation of the starting materials. So far industrial surfaces are activated by electrical pretreatment. Typical procedures are the corona and low pressure plasma treatment. Additionally, chemical processes like pickling with chromo sulfuric acid or other aggressive chemicals are used. Besides a liquid treatment, hazardous gases like ozone or fluorine are applied. The enzyme based activation of different surfaces was demonstrated successfully for the following polymers: (1) CoC (TOPAS); (2) Polypropylene; (3) Polyethylene; (4) Polycarbonate. In comparison with normal plasma surface, the activation can be carried out evenly with thin films as well as 3D structures like patterned surfaces, porous materials. Additionally the treatment can be carried out in water based media at ambient temperature in a time ranges from minutes to hours depending on enzyme concentration and does not require electric energy or large efforts for tailored electrodes like plasma.