Atmospheric Air Plasma Treatment Research Articles

The impact of atmospheric air plasma treatment on the polyfunctional end-use polyester fabric using new synthetic pyrazole dye

Before gluing, bonding, and painting, a variety of materials' surfaces can be modified using the widely used plasma treatment technique. These materials include plastics, glass, metals, and wood. Materials' physical and chemical properties are changed in an environmentally responsible way to enhance or confer particular qualities. The recently used technology known as low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma (LTAPP) allows heat-sensitive materials to be surface modified in a simple, one-step process. Polymer-based materials are frequently surface modified using LTAPP treatment to improve adhesion, printability, and surface sterility. Polyester's superior mechanical and physical qualities have led to its widespread use as a technical textile and garment material in the form of fibers, films, and plastics. Its limited versatility in terms of end use has been caused by its poor surface properties as the hydrophobic nature of polyester surface, roughness, the crystallinity, and lack of dyeability which are the main drawback restricting its use in different textile applications especially during wet treatments unlike natural fibers. In order to increase the fabric's hydrophilicity and dyeability, the surface of a polyester fabric was altered in this study using atmospheric pressure plasma treatment with atmospheric plasma jet and dielectric barrier discharge (APJ-DBD) technology in air. The primary obstacles in making dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma treatment suitable for industrial purposes are the extended duration of treatment and the utilization of elevated voltage levels. The combination between the atmospheric plasma jet and the dielectric barrier discharge reduces the optimal treatment time to 1 min and the applied voltage to 3.3 kV. After being exposed to oxygen plasma species for a brief period of time (between 30 and 300 s), and were analyzed using an X-ray diffraction machine, an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), static contact angle, and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to investigate changes in the morphology and chemical nature of the surface, respectively. Fabric wettability increased as a result of plasma treatment, which also increased the fabric's surface roughness, as demonstrated by SEM and X-ray diffraction. The contact angle decreases by increasing the treatment time. The dyeability of untreated and plasma-treated samples was examined with respect to washing, rubbing, perspiration, sublimation, and light fastness. Additionally, color strength was examined. Adequately, compared to the untreated fabric, polyester treated with plasma showed improved dyeing performances. The technical reactivity of poly (ethylene-terephthalate) (PET) fabrics was found to be effectively increased by atmospheric air plasma treatment, creating new avenues for surface modification in light of the expanding environmental and energy-saving concerns.

Durability of the effectiveness of atmospheric plasma treatment applied to thermoplastic Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene (SBS) rubber

ABSTRACT The study examines the impact of atmospheric air plasma treatment on Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene (SBS) thermoplastic rubber. The durability of the modifications and their effect on adhesive properties were evaluated over 21 days, with and without adhesive, under specific temperature and humidity conditions (23°C, 50% Relative Humidity). Adhesion performance of plasma-treated SBS rubber joints using water-based polyurethane adhesive (WPU) was assessed, considering treatment speed, adhesive application after plasma treatment, and storage time. Results show that plasma treatment increases SBS rubber’s surface energy, introduces roughness, and creates polar functional groups, enhancing adhesion. However, adhesion values varied with treatment speed, immediate adhesive application after plasma treatment, and storage time. Samples treated solely with plasma and without adhesive exhibited declining adhesion over time. Conversely, samples with adhesive applied directly after plasma treatment maintained relatively constant adhesion, slightly decreasing over time. The findings stress the importance of optimising plasma treatment parameters and considering various factors to ensure long-lasting and reliable adhesion of SBS rubber materials for footwear applications. Atmospheric air plasma treatment impacts adhesion in SBS rubber, depending on factors like treatment speed, adhesive timing, and storage, emphasizing the need for optimisation.

Atmospheric Pressure Air Plasma Treatment to Improve Dyeability with Cortex Phellodendri Plant Powder Dye: An Ecofriendly and Energy-Efficient Approach for Silk Processing

Atmospheric Pressure Air Plasma Treatment to Improve Dyeability with Cortex Phellodendri Plant Powder Dye: An Ecofriendly and Energy-Efficient Approach for Silk Processing

Study of coaxial-dual-gap dielectric barrier discharge based on capillary: discharge characteristics and Escherichia Coli decontamination.

The medical capillary catheters occupy a high proportion of medical diagnosis, monitoring and treatment devices, and will cause serious cross-infection without being disinfected adequately. This paper presents a new plasma structure for efficient inactivation of harmful microorganisms in medical capillaries. An innovative coaxial-dual-gap dielectric barrier discharge (CDG-DBD) reactor powered by nanosecond-pulsed power supply was designed for disinfection of Escherichia Coli (E. coli) inside and outside medical capillary catheters in this work. Atmospheric helium plasma (AHP) and atmospheric air plasma (AAP) were successfully obtained inside and outside capillary (0.6mm inner diameter and 1.0mm outer diameter), respectively. The electrical and optical characteristics of AHP and AAP were investigated. As the threshold of applied voltage amplitude (Uamp) was below 7.0kV, only one helium glow discharge was generated inside the capillary at the rising and falling stages of pulse voltage. As the Uamp exceeded the threshold, two helium glow discharges were generated that further caused generation of air discharge. Under the Uamp of 9.0kV, the production of AHP lowered the breakdown voltage in air gap, resulting in the formation of high-volume and uniform AAP, which was conducive to the realization of full inactivation. The inactivation rates of E. coli reached 98.13% and 99.99% by 2min AHP and 0.5min AAP treatment, respectively. The electrical stress of AHP and the reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) produced by AAP were contributed to the inactivation of E. coli. The results of SEM show that plasma treatment can destroy the cellular structure of E.coli.

Effects of Atmospheric Air Plasma Treatment on the Surface Morphology, Wettability, Water Imbibition, and Germination of Zea Mays Seeds

Effects of Atmospheric Air Plasma Treatment on the Surface Morphology, Wettability, Water Imbibition, and Germination of Zea Mays Seeds

Multilayer Films Based on Poly(lactic acid)/Gelatin Supplemented with Cellulose Nanocrystals and Antioxidant Extract from Almond Shell By-Product and Its Application on Hass Avocado Preservation.

In this work, poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/gelatin/PLA multilayer films supplemented with cellulose nanocrystals and antioxidant extract from almond shell (AS) by-products were developed by solvent casting technique for active food packaging. The almond shell antioxidant extract (ASE) was obtained by microwave-assisted extraction, while cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were extracted from AS by a sequential process of alkalization, acetylation and acid hydrolysis. Four formulations were obtained by adding 0 (control), 6 wt.% of ASE (FG/ASE), 4.5 wt.% of CNCs (FG/CNC) and 6 wt.% + 4.5 wt.% of ASE + CNCs, respectively, (FG/ASE + CNC) into fish gelatin (FG). PLA/FG/PLA multilayer films were prepared by stacking two outer PLA layers into a middle FG film. A surface modification of PLA by air atmospheric plasma treatment was optimized before multilayer development to improve PLA adhesion. Complete characterization of the multilayers underlined the FG/ASE + CNC formulation as a promising active reinforced packaging system for food preservation, with low values of transparency, lightness and whiteness index. A good adhesion and homogeneity of the multilayer system was obtained by SEM, and they also demonstrated low oxygen permeability (40.87 ± 5.20 cm3 mm m−2 day) and solubility (39.19 ± 0.16%) values, while mechanical properties were comparable with commercial plastic films. The developed multilayer films were applied to Hass avocado preservation. The initial degradation temperature (Tini), DSC parameters and in vitro antioxidant capacity of the films were in accordance with the low peroxide and anisidine values obtained from avocado pulp after packaging for 14 days at 4 °C. The developed PLA/FG/PLA films supplemented with 6 wt.% ASE+ 4.5 wt.% CNCs may be potential bioactive packaging systems for fat food preservation.

Factors triggering germination in plasma-activated cotton seeds: water imbibition vs. reactive species’ formation

Plasma technology has emerged as an efficient, simple, and eco-friendly method for activating seed germination processes. Most studies on this subject have focused on the morphological and wetting effects on the surface state of seeds and attributed the improvement in germination occasionally found to the induced hydrophilicity and a higher water imbibition rate. Recently, the involvement of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in the germination process has also been highlighted. In this work, we study the effect of a very low-power cold atmospheric air-plasma treatment on the germination and sterilization of cotton seeds in normal (i.e., water abundant) and simulated drought conditions. Optical emission spectroscopy of the plasma has revealed the formation of different excited species of molecular nitrogen and oxygen, as well as OH and NO radicals that are deemed responsible for the chemical functionalization and slight morphological changes observed on the surfaces of cotton seeds. The physicochemical changes of the seed surface were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and x-ray photoemission spectroscopy. This latter technique has shown the formation of a high surface concentration of oxygenated (i.e. –CO x , –C–OH, –O x ) and oxinitrided (i.e. –NO x ) functional groups which disappear from the surface upon exposure to vapor or liquid water. This process must entail the diffusion of these species (together with that of potassium ions that were plasma segregated to the surface) into the interior of seeds. The fact that the water uptake capacity of seeds is not significantly modified by the plasma treatment suggests that the observed in-diffusion of active oxygen and nitrogen species is an important factor in the enhancement of germination capacity induced by plasma activation, particularly under conditions of water scarcity, where germination differences of more than 60% could be found between pristine and plasma-treated seeds. The analysis by FT-IR of the adsorption of deuterated water (D2O) molecules is proposed as a useful procedure to directly monitor water uptake/release processes from seed surfaces.

Improvement of Heat-Treated Wood Coating Performance Using Atmospheric Plasma Treatment and Design of Experiments Method.

The aim of this work is to improve the heat-treated wood coating performance using experimental design methodology and air–plasma treatment. Firstly, two different heat treatment processes were applied to the wood samples. In the second stage of the study, air–atmospheric plasma treatment was applied to heat-treated samples. These samples were coated with water-based varnish. Adhesion strength and colour change values of these samples before and after the artificial weathering test were measured. The design of experiments method was used to investigate the significant factors. The heat treatment process (212 °C—1 h and 212 °C—2 h) and atmospheric plasma treatment parameters (pressure, distance, and feed) were selected as independent variables, while adhesion strength and colour change were determined as dependent variables. The factors affecting the surface coating performance before and after the artificial weathering test were evaluated by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pareto plot. In addition, the factor levels that maximise the adhesion strength value and minimise the colour change were found using the multiobjective optimisation technique. According to the multiobjective optimisation method, results of treatment feed, working distance, and pressure of 60 mm/s, 7.69 mm, and 1 bar were considered as optimum plasma treatment conditions, respectively, for heat treatment process A. Corresponding values for the heat treatment process B were 60 mm/s, 10 mm, and 2 bar.

The effect of rapid atmospheric plasma treatment of FTO substrates on the quality of TiO2 blocking layers for printed perovskite solar cells

The aim of this work is to investigate and compare rapid ambient air atmospheric plasma treatment with time-consuming standard cleaning procedure for FTO substrates. Cleanliness has immediate and important effects on TiO2 blocking layers and subsequently on the photovoltaic performance of printed carbon-based perovskite solar cells (C–PSCs). The effects of the alternative approaches to FTO cleaning are characterized by XPS, Raman imaging spectroscopy, SEM, and optical microscopy. The C–PSCs treated with low-temperature atmospheric plasma for 10 s exhibited a similar conversion efficiency to that of cells prepared with FTO substrates cleaned by standard procedures (6% vs 6.1%). The results indicate that rapid plasma treatment of FTO substrates can be as effective as standard cleaning, which may employ various toxic organic solvents and time-consuming ultrasonic baths. The highest efficiency (6.3%) was achieved with C–PSCs for which the substrates had been cleaned by combined standard cleaning and 10-s plasma treatment. XPS and Raman measurements confirmed that both standard and plasma treatment significantly reduced organic residues and other contamination on FTO surfaces, enhancing the overall quality of TiO2 blocking layers and the performance of the whole solar device.

Rapid Atmospheric Pressure Ambient Air Plasma Functionalization of Poly(styrene) and Poly(ethersulfone) Foils

Activation of polymeric surfaces, i.e. formation and/or modification of the functional groups on the surface of a material, is essential prior to the further processing of polymers, especially in applications where wettability plays a crucial role. In this study, an atmospheric pressure ambient air plasma treatment of poly(styrene) (PS) and poly(ethersulfone) (PES) foils using diffuse coplanar surface barrier discharge is presented. The plasma treatment for 0.5 s resulted in a decrease of water contact angle from the original value of 83° to 26° for PS and from 76° to 32° for PES. No significant changes in wettability were observed for prolonged treatment times. Better wettability was correlated with decreasing carbon to oxygen ratio resulting from an incorporation of oxygen-containing functional groups C–OH, C=O and O–C=O on the surface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was employed to study details in the changes of the surface chemistry following the plasma exposure. We used atomic force microscopy to study the formation of low molecular weight oxidized material (LMWOM) during the plasma treatment. After dissolving the LMWOM in water, we observed roughening of the plasma-treated surfaces at the nanometre level due to etching induced by plasma treatment.

Glow-in-the-Dark Patterned PET Nonwoven Using Air-Atmospheric Plasma Treatment and Vitamin B2-Derivative (FMN)

Flavin mononucleotide (FMN) derived from Vitamin B2, a bio-based fluorescent water-soluble molecule with visible yellow-green fluorescence, has been used in the scope of producing photoluminescent and glow-in-the-dark patterned polyester (PET) nonwoven panels. Since the FMN molecule cannot diffuse inside the PET fiber, screen printing, coating, and padding methods were used in an attempt to immobilize FMN molecules at the PET fiber surface of a nonwoven, using various biopolymers such as gelatin and sodium alginate as well as a water-based commercial polyacrylate. In parallel, air atmospheric plasma activation of PET nonwoven was carried for improved spreading and adhesion of FMN bearing biopolymer/polymer mixture. Effectively, the plasma treatment yielded a more hydrophilic PET nonwoven, reduction in wettability, and surface roughness of the plasma treated fiber with reduced water contact angle and increased capillary uptake were observed. The standard techniques of morphological properties were explored by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Films combining each biopolymer and FMN were formed on PS (polystyrene) Petri-dishes. However, only the gelatin and polyacrylate allowed the yellow-green fluorescence of FMN molecule to be maintained on the film and PET fabric (seen under ultraviolet (UV) light). No yellow-green fluorescence of FMN was observed with sodium alginate. Thus, when the plasma-activated PET was coated with the gelatin mixture or polyacrylate bearing FMN, the intense photoluminescent yellow-green glowing polyester nonwoven panel was obtained in the presence of UV light (370 nm). Screen printing of FMN using a gelatin mixture was possible. The biopolymer exhibited appropriate viscosity and rheological behavior, thus creating a glow-in-the-dark pattern on the polyester nonwoven, with the possibility of one expression in daylight and another in darkness (in presence of UV light). A bio-based natural product such as FMN is potentially an interesting photoluminescent molecule with which textile surface pattern designers may create light-emitting textiles and interesting aesthetic expressions.

Degradation phenomena on atmospheric air plasma treatment of polyester fabrics

Surface treatments are commonly employed on woven fabrics to render properties such as dyeability, antibacterial feature, self-cleaning, etc. A variety of environmentally benign cold plasma treatments present a viable alternative to the conventional wet chemical processes. The various plasma designs, however, may differ in the efficiency and the effect they exert on the fabrics. In this work a polyester woven fabric was treated by diffuse co-planar surface barrier discharges in atmospheric air for various lengths of time. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy investigation revealed that changes in surface chemistry occurred within 30 s of treatment. Carbon containing contaminations were removed and the surface became more oxidized, however, new chemical states have not been developed. As an effect, wettability and wickability of the fabric significantly increased. A slight increase in the roughness also occurred after treatment according to AFM measurements. The tensile strength of the fabric showed a gradually decreasing trend with respect to treatment time that could be attributed to damaged sites in the fabric generated by the local excessive etching of the plasma. The results show the detrimental effect of prolonged plasma treatment on the woven poly(ethylene-terephthalate) (PET) fabrics. Employing longer treatment times of 120 s and 180 s the mechanical properties reduced by ca. 40% and 50%, respectively, without significant changes in the surface morphology.

A facile, clean construction of biphilic surface on filter paper via atmospheric air plasma for highly efficient separation of water-in-oil emulsions

A novel method to prepare durable biphilic surface on cellulose filter paper by atmospheric air plasma treatment is reported. The as-prepared sample possessed excellent separation performance for surfactant-stabilized water-in-oil emulsions, of which the filtration efficiency reached 99.13% and the oil recovery purity exceeded 99.98 wt%. The hydrophobic surface with microscale hierarchical structure was constructed with long-chain alkyl silane and SiO2 nanoparticles via plasma-induced crosslinking, on which amino-grafted SiO2 nanoparticles was then fixed through plasma-induced chemical bonding. The water-amino attraction and oil-alkyl attraction would synergistically destabilize the emulsion and hence separate the two phases. The plasma-fabricated coating was very durable against ultrasonication in acetone and can be stored for 12 months without aging. The coating also exhibited excellent recyclability (over 20 cycles). The study may offer a facile, environment-friendly method to prepare filtering materials for highly efficient separation of water-in-oil emulsions.

The effects of dielectric barrier discharge atmospheric air plasma treatment to germination and enhancement growth of sunflower seeds

This research was to study the effectiveness of dielectric barrier atmospheric plasma (DBD) on sunflower seed (Helianthus annuus). The DBD plasma was driven with a power of 90 watts. The samples consisted of five groups; control group, samples 1, 2, 3 and 4 being treated by DBD plasma with time limits of 30 s, 60 s, 90 s and 120 s, respectively. The physical properties and chemical properties were observed using SEM and water contact angle. Growth parameters were studied by the water uptake, seed germination, sprouts length and dry weight. Compared with the control sample the results showed the contact angle decreased and the wettability increased. The surface roughness in all conditions increased with increased power. With bigger power the water absorption decreased and super hydrophilic was achieved with 120 s treatment. The water uptake of plasma produced the best result using the DBD plasma treatment of 120s. The distribution of sprouts length and the dry weight both increased with increased power. The DBD plasma treatment on sunflower seeds improves seed germination rate and lead to a significant change in wettability and growth parameter.

Targeted plasma functionalization of titanium inhibits polymicrobial biofilm recolonization and stimulates cell function

Biofilm contamination on an implanted medical device represents a particularity resilient reservoir of infection that inevitably leads to device failure. In this study, we demonstrate that an atmospheric pressure air plasma treatment can simultaneously eradicate biofilm contamination while beneficially functionalizing the underlying surface, creating long-lasting characteristics that inhibit microbial recolonization and promote fibroblast proliferation. By comparing two contrasting plasma treatments the interplay between plasma generated reactive species, biofilm contamination and the underlying surface was uncovered. The composition, wettability and topography of titanium surfaces were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, water contact angle measurements and atomic force microscopy. Exposure to plasma generated chemical species created nanoscale surface features and the introduction of oxygen and nitrogen containing functional groups, resulting in changes to the surface wettability. Using a polymicrobial biofilm model comprising of E. coli and S. epidermidis, it was shown that plasma can effectively eliminate biofilm contamination from the surface, while simultaneously functionalizing the surface to inhibit recolonization. To assess the biocompatibility of treated surfaces the adhesion and proliferation of murine fibroblasts was assessed using fluorescent microscopy, cell viability assays and flow cytometry. It was shown that plasma exposure led to surface characteristics that promote fibroblast adhesion and proliferation.

Atmospheric pressure air plasma treatment to improve the 3D printing of polyoxymethylene

AbstractPolyoxymethylene (POM), an excellent engineering material, shows drawbacks as a three‐dimensional (3D) printing material: (a) difficulties in the adhesion of the first‐printed layer and (b) thermal contractions during printing. In this study, an atmospheric pressure air plasma treatment is applied on a polycarbonate (PC)‐printing base. The effect of the plasma treatment parameters is studied. Chemical and morphological tests are conducted. Results shows that, in general, as the plasma exposure rises, so does the degree of oxidation of the PC surface and the adhesion of POM. However, care must be taken as thermal residual stresses may reduce adhesion. Finally, an increase in adhesion of up to 45% is achieved.

Atmospheric Air Plasma Treated SnS Films: An Efficient Electrocatalyst for HER

Here, we demonstrate the enhanced water-splitting performance (I = 10 mA/cm2, Tafel slope = 60 mV/dec, onset potential = −80 mV) of atmospheric air plasma treated (AAPT) SnS thin films by the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The as prepared SnS films were subjected to Atmospheric Air Plasma Treatment (AAPT) which leads to formation of additional phases of Sn and SnO2 at plasma powers of 150 W and 250 W, respectively. The AAPT treatment at 150 W leads to the evaporation of the S atoms as SO2 generates a number of S-vacancies and Sn active edge sites over the surface of the SnS thin film. S-vacancies also create Sn active edge sites, surface p-type pinning that tunes the suitable band positions, and a hydrophilic surface which is beneficial for hydrogen adsorption/desorption. At high plasma power (250 W), the surface of the SnS films becomes oxidized and degrades the HER performance. These results demonstrate that AAPT (150 W) is capable of improving the HER performance of SnS thin films and our results indicate that SnS thin films can work as efficient electrocatalysts for HER.

Atmospheric pressure air plasma treatment of glass substrates for improved silver/glass adhesion in solar mirrors

Atmospheric pressure air plasma treatment was applied to glass substrates to improve the adhesion of the reflective silver layer of mirrors used in solar power systems. This treatment attempts to prevent problems related to the detachment of this layer that affect its energy performance. Untreated and plasma treated glass substrates were subjected to a spray coating process to fabricate mirrors. Chemical characterization by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and measurements of the water contact angle (WCA) were undertaken on the glass substrates before the plating process. The reflectivity of the mirrors was studied by spectrophotometry in the wavelength range of 280–2500nm, and the adhesion between the glass substrates and the silver layers was measured by pull-off tests. In order to determine the relationship between the parameters of the plasma treatment and the adhesion and reflectivity of the mirrors, different combinations of treatment speeds and gap distances between the glass substrates and the plasma nozzle were used. It was observed that the plasma treatment has a cleaning effect and forms oxygen-based functional groups that promote the hydrophilicity of the glass substrates. This double effect resulted in improved adhesion of the silver layer to the plasma treated substrates, with no significant loss of solar reflectance of the mirrors. The plasma treatment with the lowest gap distance (2mm) and the lowest speed (1m/min) achieved the best results in this work. It brought an improvement of 85.8% in the breaking strength of the untreated glass mirror and no significant variation in the solar reflectance in as-fabricated conditions. After accelerated aging, it maintained an improvement of 27.2% in the breaking strength and showed higher solar reflectance than the untreated glass mirror.

Effects of Cold Plasma on Surface, Thermal and Antimicrobial Release Properties of Chitosan Film

This work aims to analyze the effects of cold atmospheric air plasma treatment of antimicrobial chitosan film with different levels of thymol. Optical characterization of the dielectric barrier discharge showed the generation... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on Tech Science Press

In situ coupling of chitosan onto polypropylene foils by an Atmospheric Pressure Air Glow Discharge with a liquid cathode

Atmospheric air plasma treatment of chitosan solutions leads to degradation of chitosan molecules by OH radicals and is accompanied by a predominant cleavage of glycosidic linkages and by a decrease of the molecular weight. The degradation proceeds via first order kinetics with the rate constant of (5.73±0.22)×10−6s−1 and the energetic yield of chitosan bond scission of (2.4±0.2)×10−8mol/J. Products of degradation together with intact chitosan molecules adsorb and form coatings on polypropylene foils immersed into the solution that is being plasma treated. The plasma treatment results in strong binding of chitosan to polypropylene due to the formation of covalent bonds between the activated polymer surface and chitosan molecules. Plasma-driven crosslinking is responsible for the accumulation of compressive stress which leads to the development of buckling instabilities in the chitosan coatings.