An atmospheric pressure plasma processing apparatus and method employing argon as a plasma gas in the absence of helium, including nanosecond pulse-powered electrodes having planar surfaces, and grounded electrodes having planar surfaces parallel to the surfaces of the powered electrodes and spaced-apart a chosen distance therefrom, forming plasma regions, are described. The absence of helium from the plasma discharge has been found not to affect the quality of the resulting plasma-polymerized coatings of the processed substrates.
Apparatus for sterilizing surfaces and apparatus for sterilizing air and enclosed objects using gliding arc discharge technology are described, whereby disinfecting products formed in the discharge are prevented from escaping from the apparatus into the ambient air.
A61L 2/14 - Procédés ou appareils de désinfection ou de stérilisation de matériaux ou d'objets autres que les denrées alimentaires ou les lentilles de contactAccessoires à cet effet utilisant des phénomènes physiques du plasma, c.-à-d. des gaz ionisés
Methods for coloration of substrates, including textiles, by plasma polymerization of dyes to which polymerizable moieties have been chemically bonded at sites on the dye capable of bonding to such moieties, and that have been deposited on at least one surface of the substrate, are described. Atmospheric pressure plasmas were used for the polymerization process. Generally, the plasma polymerization is performed away from the dye deposition so that undeposited dye is not exposed to the plasma. Textiles may include cotton, polyester, wool, silk, acrylics, polypropylene, polyolefins, aramids, and nylon, and blends thereof. The plasma-polymerizable moiety may be chosen from acrylates, methacrylates, and vinyl amides. Dye functional groups may include hydroxyl groups, carboxyl groups, amines: primary, secondary, and tertiary, epoxides, carboxylic acids, and chlorides, and dyes may include acid dyes, disperse dyes, azo dyes, vat dyes, sulfur dyes, direct dyes, reactive dyes, basic dyes, pigment dyes, aniline dyes, anthraquinone dyes, and coumarin dyes, as examples.
B05D 3/06 - Traitement préalable des surfaces sur lesquelles des liquides ou d'autres matériaux fluides doivent être appliquésTraitement ultérieur des revêtements appliqués, p. ex. traitement intermédiaire d'un revêtement déjà appliqué, pour préparer les applications ultérieures de liquides ou d'autres matériaux fluides par exposition à des rayonnements
C08F 2/52 - Polymérisation amorcée par énergie ondulatoire ou par rayonnement corpusculaire par décharge électrique, p. ex. voltolisation
4.
ATMOSPHERIC-PRESSURE PLASMA PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD
A plasma processing apparatus including powered electrodes having elongated planar surfaces; grounded electrodes having elongated planar surfaces parallel to and coextensive with the elongated surfaces of the powered electrodes, and spaced-apart a chosen distance therefrom, forming plasma regions, is described. RF power is provided to the at least one powered electrode, both powered and grounded electrodes may be cooled, and a plasma gas is flowed through the plasma regions at atmospheric pressure; whereby a plasma is formed in the plasma regions. The material to be processed may be moved into close proximity to the exit of the plasma gas from the plasma regions perpendicular to the gas flow, and perpendicular to the elongated electrode dimensions, whereby excited species generated in the plasma exit the plasma regions and impinge unimpeded onto the material.
A plasma processing apparatus including powered electrodes having elongated planar surfaces; grounded electrodes having elongated planar surfaces parallel to and coextensive with the elongated surfaces of the powered electrodes, and spaced-apart a chosen distance therefrom, forming plasma regions, is described. RF power is provided to the at least one powered electrode, both powered and grounded electrodes may be cooled, and a plasma gas is flowed through the plasma regions at atmospheric pressure; whereby a plasma is formed in the plasma regions. The material to be processed may be moved into close proximity to the exit of the plasma gas from the plasma regions perpendicular to the gas flow, and perpendicular to the elongated electrode dimensions, whereby excited species generated in the plasma exit the plasma regions and impinge unimpeded onto the material.
D06B 19/00 - Traitement de matières textiles par des liquides, gaz ou vapeurs, non prévu dans les groupes
B23K 10/00 - Soudage ou découpage au moyen d'un plasma
H05H 1/46 - Production du plasma utilisant des champs électromagnétiques appliqués, p. ex. de l'énergie à haute fréquence ou sous forme de micro-ondes
D06B 1/02 - Application de liquides, de gaz ou de vapeurs aux matières textiles en vue d'effectuer un traitement, p. ex. lavage, teinture, blanchiment, encollage ou imprégnation par pulvérisation ou projection
6.
LARGE AREA, ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE PLASMA FOR DOWNSTREAM PROCESSING
An arcless, atmospheric-pressure plasma generating apparatus (10) capable of producing a large-area, temperature-controlled, stable discharge (20) at power densities between about 0.1 W/cm3 and about 200 W/cm3, while having an operating gas temperature of less than 50 C, for processing materials (28) outside of the discharge, is described. The apparatus produces active chemical species, including gaseous metastables and radicals which may be used for polymerization (either free radical-induced or through dehydrogenation-based polymerization), surface cleaning and modification, etching, adhesion promotion, and sterilization, as examples. The invention may include either a cooled rf-driven electrode (12) or a cooled ground electrode (22), or two cooled electrodes, wherein active components of the plasma may be directed out of the plasma and onto an external workpiece (28) without simultaneously exposing a material to the electrical influence or ionic components of the plasma.
Apparatus and method for plasma finishing of fibrous materials are disclosed. The method includes depositing a monomer comprising at least one fluorocarbon monomer with chemical additives, as required, at atmospheric pressure onto the fibrous material; exposing the monomer on a single surface of the fibrous material to an inert gas, atmospheric-pressure plasma, thereby causing polymerization of the monomer species; and repeating this sequence using multiple sequential deposition and plasma discharge steps to create a layered surface having durability against abrasion for both water-based laundry methods and dry-cleaning methods, and normal wear, without affecting the feel, drape, appearance or breathability of the substrate material. The present method uses a high-power, continuously operating plasma that is 10. sup 4 times more powerful than the prior art plasma sources and produces a durable finish with between 0.5 and 2 s of plasma exposure, whereby repeated cleaning of the electrodes is not required.
D06M 10/00 - Traitement physique des fibres, fils, filés, tissus ou articles fibreux faits de ces matières, p. ex. ultrasonique, effet corona, irradiation, courants électriques ou champs magnétiquesTraitement physique combiné avec le traitement avec des composés ou des éléments chimiques
C08G 10/00 - Polymères de condensation obtenus uniquement à partir d'aldéhydes ou de cétones avec des hydrocarbures aromatiques ou avec leurs dérivés halogénés
C08G 77/00 - Composés macromoléculaires obtenus par des réactions créant dans la chaîne principale de la macromolécule une liaison contenant du silicium, avec ou sans soufre, azote, oxygène ou carbone
C08F 283/00 - Composés macromoléculaires obtenus par polymérisation de monomères sur des polymères prévus par la sous-classe
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