Miroslav Zemánek

Permanent hydrophilization of outer and inner surfaces of polytetrafluoroethylene tubes using ambient air plasma generated by surface dielectric barrier discharges

We present an atmospheric pressure ambient air plasma technique developed for technically simple treatment of inner and/or outer surfaces of plastic tubes and other hollow dielectric bodies. It is based on surface dielectric barrier discharge generating visually diffuse plasma layers along the treated dielectric surfaces using water-solution electrodes. The observed visual uniformity and measured plasma rotational and vibrational temperatures of 333 K and 2350 K indicate that the discharge can be readily applied to material surface treatment without significant thermal effect. This is exemplified by the obtained permanent surface hydrophilization of polytetrafluoroethylene tubes related to the replacement of a high fraction (more than 80%) of the surface fluorine determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A tentative explanation of the discharge mechanism based on high-speed camera observations and the discharge current and voltage of measurements is outlined.

Study of surface dielectric barrier discharge generated using liquid electrodes in different gases

Surface dielectric barrier discharges with conductive water-solution electrodes were generated at atmospheric pressure air, nitrogen, oxygen, and argon. The discharges were studied by conventional and high-speed camera photography. Plasma rotational and vibrational temperatures and the electron number density were estimated using optical emission spectroscopy. Surprisingly, especially for oxygen, the discharge was found to generate visually diffuse strongly non-isothermal plasma. This observation indicates the interesting application potential of the discharge for surface plasma treatments of, i.e. the inner and outer surfaces of hollow dielectric bodies.

INFLUENCE OF SUBSTRATE THICKNESS ON DIFFUSE COPLANAR SURFACE BARRIER DISCHARGE PROPERTIES

In presented work the influence of dielectric barrier thickness on the parameters of Diffuse Coplanar Surface Barrier Discharge was investigated. The discharge was operated at atmospheric pressure laboratory air. The electrical parameters of the system were studied both experimentally and using numerical simulations. The discharge pattern was studied as well using intensified CCD camera.

Plasma treatment of polyethylene tubes in continuous regime using surface dielectric barrier discharge with water electrodes

Combining the surface dielectric barrier discharges generated in contact with water based electrolytes, as the discharge electrodes, we have designed a new type of surface electric discharge, generating thin layers of plasma which propagate along the treated polymer surfaces. The technique was aimed to achieve uniform atmospheric pressure plasma treatment of polymeric tubes and other hollow bodies. The results presented in this work show the possibility of such system to treat outer surface of polymer materials in a continuous mode. The technical details of experimental setup are discussed as well as results of treatment of polyethylene tubes are shown.