All systems perform modification to the surface, however, the specific change isn’t important. What is important is the fact that processing has improved adhesion, cleaned the material or done something that gives a change in performance.
However, by considering how the systems work and what gases, vapours or internal materials are used, we can add specific and tailored functional group chemistry in dry, controllable conditions. This can give exciting and interesting surface properties that would be difficult, costly or time consuming to achieve using traditional wet chemistry.
While modification can be done with any of the surface treatment systems, it’s most commonly used with vacuum plasma systems because you can control the system to a high degree and because the systems work at vacuum pressures, usually less than 5mbar, there isn’t a lot of reagent or gases needed and the level of air borne impurities is low.
Treatment gases can be used with both Atmospheric Plasma and Corona to create in line treatments, but with much higher gas flow rates and requirement to control emissions, it’s only sensible for simple gases.
Our new for 2024 system – ZeroNOx is a good example of using process gases because it creates a tailored gas mix for both improved treatment, reduced oxidation on the surface and reduced nitrogen oxides for extraction.
