TSE: Use of Ambient Non-thermal Plasma in Manufacturing

这个NSF/EPA可持续环境技术项目研究了一种创新技术，在应用保护涂层之前使用常压等离子体对金属表面进行预处理。非热大气等离子体是活性自由基（H和OH）的清洁来源，可以改变表面性质并提高金属的润湿性。提出了一种在氩/氢/水混合物中产生均匀非热等离子体的新方法。与传统的喷砂、碱性和酸性处理方法不同，该技术不会留下有毒残留物或废物。一个分三个阶段的研究计划将调查(1)适当大气压非热等离子体的产生，(2)用非热等离子体处理后钢表面发生的化学和物理变化的性质，以及(3)防腐涂层的有效性，如涂层材料对钢表面的附着力、吸附性或化学反应性。在项目结束时，将证明金属表面预处理技术用于工业应用的可行性。这种用化学物质处理表面的无污染替代方案还具有由于表面的均匀羟基化而提供更好的表面和涂层结合的优点。这对工业的潜在采用具有重要意义，对环境和经济都有影响。

This NSF/EPA Technology for Sustainable Environment project investigates an innovative technique of using an atmospheric pressure plasma for pretreatment of metal surfaces before application of protective coatings. A non-thermal atmospheric plasma is a clean source of reactive radicals (H and OH) that can modify surface properties and improve the wettability of metals. A novel method is used to generate uniform non-thermal plasma in argon/hydrogen/H2O mixtures. This technique leaves no toxic residues or waste, unlike conventional methods such as sand blasting, alkaline and acidic treatment. A three phase research plan will investigate (1) the generation of the appropriate atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasma, (2) the nature of chemical and physical changes on the surface of steel that take place upon treatment with non-thermal plasma, and (3) the effectiveness of anti-corrosive coatings such as adhesion, adsorption or chemical reactivity of the coating material to steel surface.At the end of the project period, the viability of the technique for pretreatment of metal surfaces for industrial application will be demonstrated. This non-polluting alternative to treating surfaces with chemicals also has the advantage of providing better binding of the surface and the coating due to the uniform hydroxylation of the surface. This is significant to the potential adoption by industry, with both environmental and economic impact.