The object to be flocking, whether it is a flat surface, a rotatively symmetrical part, a hollow body or other shape, should be cleaned or pretreated according to the existing surface condition in the first step. This helps prevent problems with poor adhesion between the substrate and the adhesive. The cause of adhesion problems is usually dirt, aging, material properties or insufficient surface tension of the substrate.

Common solutions are solvent treatment, mechanical roughening, application of primer or base coat and plasma coating.

The adhesive can be applied by brushing, rolling, printing, spraying or scraping. Adhesive should only be applied where flocking is required. Baffles or tape can be used to protect areas that do not need flocking. In the case of scraping or printing, the adhesive surface has been determined.

When applying adhesive, make sure the thickness is even. The following rule of thumb applies: The thickness of the dry adhesive should be equivalent to 10% of the cut length of the flocking fibers. This ensures that the fibers are optimally fixed in the adhesive.

After applying the adhesive, the substrate must be flocking in a timely manner, because once the adhesive starts to dry, the flocking fibers are difficult to fix in it. Therefore, when choosing an adhesive, it is important to consider how much time can be allowed between the steps of applying the adhesive and flocking. This is called opening hours.

After pre-treatment and adhesive application, the flocking step can be carried out with the help of an electrostatic field. This is done by hand, semi-automatic or fully automatic, electrostatic or electro-pneumatic, depending on the shape of the object to be felled. Electrostatic charge Bridges resistance in the form of interaction between air, electrode and substrate distance, conductivity and voltage. The flocculent fibers are charged to a voltage of 5-70 kV. The field lines of electrostatic charge cause flocking fibers to repel each other and line up along the field lines. This allows the flocking fibers to be fixed vertically in the adhesive, since the field lines always strike the surface of the flocking object vertically.

There are three different types of electrostatic field. The electrostatic field between two point charges, the electrostatic field between two plate electrodes, and the electrostatic field between a point charge and a plate electrode.

The electrode in the flocking device forms a positive electrode. It is essential that the flocking object is connected to the ground wire to form a negative electrode.

• 
  The electrostatic field between two point charges
• 
  The electrostatic field between two plate-shaped electrodes
• 
  The electrostatic field between point charges and plate electrodes

The parameters that can affect the best flocking results are the preparation of the flocking fiber, the air conditions, and the distance between the electrode and the substrate. It is important that these parameters are not considered in isolation, but that they influence each other. This is because each individual parameter affects the others. In order to obtain the best flocking results, flocking fibers must have sufficient electrical conductivity. This may be due to the preparation of fibers with coded products, metal salts, tannins, or other substances that support electrical conductivity.

In addition, flocking fibers must contain the right amount of moisture in order to optimally develop their electrical conductivity. For this reason, the manufacturer's recommended temperature and humidity must be maintained during the flocking process. The relative humidity during the fluff processing is between 55% and 65%. The humidity of the flocking fiber will determine the optimal conductivity.

In addition, the fluff must be adjusted. If it is left in the storage container for several hours, the effect may be compromised, so that the best flocking results cannot be obtained due to changes in process parameters.

After flocking the substrate, only about 10% of the surface is actually covered by flocking fibers. This is due to the electrostatic charge that individual flocking fibers have. Because of the voltage, each individual fiber creates an electrostatic field around itself. This means that the points of each fiber must be spaced a certain distance apart. The size of the electrostatic field depends on the length of the flocking fiber, that is, the longer the fiber, the larger the electrostatic field. The resulting air or hollow space affects the most diverse functions of the fluff.

Once the first fibers are fixed in the adhesive or on the substrate, they form further field lines up beyond the surrounding field lines, which also determine the distance between the fibers like any other field lines.

In addition to the electrostatic field that forms around individual fibers, the distance between the electrode and the substrate is also important for flocking. The greater the distance between the positive and negative poles, the more difficult it is to flock and the less effective it will be.

However, this can be prevented by increasing the voltage by thousands of volts. This means that the greater the distance between the electrode and the substrate, the greater the voltage required.

When flocking, there are two different types or equipment to choose from: pure electrostatic flocking or electrostatic pneumatic flocking.

Electrostatic devices are especially suitable for flat and straight surfaces. This type of flocking can be done either in large industrial companies with large facilities, or at home with small hand flocking equipment for individual users.

Pure electrostatic flocking can also be carried out in the opposite direction of gravity, i.e. from bottom to top. During this process, the fluff moves back and forth between the two poles until it is secured to the adhesive or falls out of the field.

Electrostatic-pneumatic flocking is used for dented or recessed objects. This is due to the so-called Faraday cage, which ensures that the charge is shielded and cannot penetrate into the depression or cavity. In electrostatic-pneumatic flocking, unlike pure electrostatic flocking, air is supplied to the electrodes. This allows flocking fibers to break through resistance in grooves and voids because they have the least resistance to flow along the air.

In addition, whether pure electrostatic or electro-pneumatic flocking is used, an auxiliary electrode can be used to support and maintain the electrostatic charge over a large distance between the substrate and the electrode.

After flocking, the flocking object is dried in Middle or in an oven. Drying can be done with hot air, infrared radiation, or vacuum. Various parameters affect the drying process. For example, heat or temperature, humidity in the dryer, and air exchange or circulation.

Clear information on drying can be obtained from adhesive manufacturers.

After drying, the object is cleaned to remove excess flocking fibers. This can be done by blowing, vacuuming, brushing, or washing.

So-called ionized air can also be used as part of the cleaning process. This is done with the help of an ionizer, which produces oxygen ions by ionizing molecules. As soon as it is blown onto a surface, the material on this surface, the excess pile fiber, is charged or discharged, and thus the loose flock fiber loses its adhesion to other fibers and can be removed.