Enhancing Durability and Adhesion in Defense Manufacturing with Advanced Surface Treatment

Applications of Surface Treatment in Defense Manufacturing

Plasma and corona treatment play a critical role in preparing plastics, metals, and cables for reliable adhesion in defense products. These technologies support manufacturers in achieving consistent performance across high-performance and mission-critical components.

Typical Applications

• Plastics used in housings, covers, helmets, and visors: Improved bonding and coating durability
• Metal enclosures, connectors, and fasteners: Enhanced adhesion before painting or sealing
• Optical surfaces and display glass: Reliable coating adhesion for clear, long-lasting performance
• Connectors, buttons, and switches: Treatment for strong and repeatable adhesion prior to assembly
• Cable and wire insulation (PTFE, PVC, fluoropolymers): Improved adhesion for overmolding or protective coatings
• Composite and carbon fiber parts: Surface activation for bonding and lamination in structural applications

Integrating plasma and corona treatment gives defense manufacturers a clear advantage over traditional methods such as chemical primers or flame treatment.

Unlike chemical approaches that introduce safety risks, environmental concerns, and unpredictable results, plasma and corona technologies are clean, controlled, and repeatable.

Unlike flame treatment, which can damage sensitive substrates or create non-uniform results, these dry processes activate surfaces at a molecular level to ensure consistent adhesion across every component.

The benefits extend beyond improved adhesion alone

Coatings and adhesives last longer, withstand harsh environments, and meet strict defense quality requirements with fewer failures or rework. At the same time, production becomes more efficient. Surface treatment is fast, scalable, and easy to integrate into existing lines. From prototyping to high-volume manufacturing, plasma and corona deliver proven adhesion reliability on plastics, metals, composites, and cable insulation.

Adhesion Challenges for High-Performance Materials & Critical Components

Defense products must perform reliably under extreme conditions. Adhesion failures on plastics, metals, and cables can compromise both durability and compliance. These challenges often arise from material diversity, contamination, and the need for coatings or adhesives to withstand harsh environments.

Some Key Challenges

• Corrosion and wear protection for long-lasting performance
• Consistent adhesion on plastics, metals, composites, and cables
• Reliable coatings for displays, visors, and electronic components
• Performance under harsh environments such as saltwater, dust, and extreme temperatures
• Compliance with strict defense standards for quality and reliability
• Reducing reliance on primers and flame treatment, which pose environmental and safety concerns 

Advanced Surface Treatment Solutions for High-Performance Applications

To solve adhesion challenges in defense manufacturing, Tantec offers plasma, corona, and vacuum plasma technologies. These dry, environmentally friendly methods prepare plastics, metals, and cables for reliable bonding, coating, and sealing – without the need for chemical primers or flame treatment.

Solutions for Adhension for High-Performance Materials

• Plasma Treatment: Ensures uniform adhesion on complex geometries and high-performance materials.
• Corona Treatment: Ideal for inline, high-throughput processes where speed and consistency matter.
• Vacuum Plasma: Provides controlled treatment for sensitive or highly specialized components.

Trusted Partner in Surface Treatment

Our customers in defense and aerospace rely on us for proven performance, reliable support, and technologies that meet the highest production and compliance standards. 

With over 50 years of experience and more than 4,000 solutions delivered worldwide, Tantec can help defense manufacturers move from trial-and-error adhesion to proven, validated performance.

Our technologies scale from R&D labs to full production lines, ensuring consistent results across critical components such as housings, visors, connectors, and cabling.

Why Manufacturers Choose Tantec

• Proven expertise since 1974: Decades of innovation in plasma and corona technology
• Over 4,000 customized surface treatment solutions installed worldwide: Solutions scaled from lab to full production
• Global reach: Headquartered in Denmark with a U.S. branch office and 30+ partners worldwide
• Reliable support: Training, service, and spare parts available when and where you need them
• Sustainable choice: Dry treatment methods that eliminate hazardous chemicals and support green manufacturing goals

Defense applications demand more than just adhesion – they demand reliability, compliance, and repeatability under the toughest conditions.