plasma technology GmbH

Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Joerg Eisenlohr

Marie-Curie-Str. 8

D-71083 Herrenberg Gueltstein

GERMANY

fon: +49 (0) 70 32 / 91 32 146

fax: +49 (0) 70 32 / 91 32 147

E-Mail: info@plasmatechnology.de

Treatment of plasma

as a key technology in the surface treatment offers innovative and practical solutions for surface treatment.

Whether cleaning, etching, activation or coating of surfaces – with our processes and plants being specially coordinated to your requirements nearly every kind of surface may be prepared for the subsequent machining processes such as coating, printing or varnishing.

High process quality and environmental friendliness distinguish this technology.

Plasma technology services

• Solutions for your surfaces with process development and process guarantee
• Production-orientated approaches
• Plant concepts / plant design
• Optimisation of already existing plants
• Definition, management and servicing of the project
• Treatment of probe components free of charge

FAQ:

How is a plasma plant designed?
 

The plant technology necessary for the generation of low-pressure plasma essentially consists of the following components:

vacuum chamber
vacuum pump
gas feeding
medium frequency or high frequency generator
electrode

How does plasma operate?

A vacuum chamber is evacuated by means of a vacuum pump. A sub-atmospheric pressure is generated. Process gas (such as O2) is fed at a pressure of nearly 0.1 mbar. The pressure range is between 0.1 and 1.0 mbar. The gas is ionized by means of energy supply. Plasma is generated. Fresh process gas continuously is fed while the consumed gas is sucted off. Depending upon the desired effect of plasma treatment, the process lasts between 1 and 30 minutes. The chamber is ventilated after completion of the plasma treatment, the processed materials are removed.
 

Which materials can be process with plasma?
 

• metals
• plastics
• elastomers
• plastics in connection with other materials such as metals
• textiles

Construction units with a complex geometry can be processed because plasma well passes through gaps. Foils and fabrics (textiles) can be processed in special roll-to-roll plasma plants.

Up to which size and items can components be processed?
 

The size of the construction unit and the required throughput determine the required size of chamber. The maximally possible throughput depends on the application of plasma. The activation of surfaces regularly are short processes (nearly 5 minutes). Cleaning and etching of surfaces require a time period of up to 30 minutes.

Depending upon design and application, construction units also can be processed timesavingly as bulk materials in greater amounts in a rotary drum.
Flat processing goods can be put in on several floors into the vacuum chamber.
The plant also can be designed for greater construction units without any difficulties.
 

Which gases can be used?

• oxygen
• hydrogen
• argon
• nitrogen
• fluorine gases
• mixtures of gases mentioned above

 Which connections to the mains are necessary in order to operate the plasma plant?

Connection to the mains for production plants: 400 V                                

Connection to the mains for laboratory plants: 230V               

 What is plasma etching/ plasma activation?

 
During the plasma activation radical sites are generated at the surface. This occurs within relatively short processing times (up to 5 minutes). These radical sites enable an optimal tethering of varnishing systems and adhesive systems at the surface.
   
In the process of plasma etching the surface selectively is structured and increased in an extended process. Among other, the process of etching depends on the process gas as well as on the mounted performance. The etching rate amounts 10 to 100 µ per hour.

 Is a selective plasma processing possible?

The selective masking of a surface which has not to be treated enables a processing of only small parts of the material surface with plasma.

Another possibility is offered by Plasma-Spot®. In this case, the surface purposively can be plasma treated with a specially designed plasma head. This enables extremely short processing times due to very short times of pumping off (evacuation of the vacuum chamber).

 Does the plasma technology expose humans and environment to danger?

The low-pressure plasma technology is not ecologically harmful. A very low amount of emissions is developed. Poisonous or inflammable gases are not developed by means of purge gases in the vacuum chamber. In the case of fluorine containing process gases, a special filter technology is used for the treatment of exhaust gases.

Radiations injurious to health are not released.