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Cold atmospheric plasma device for surface treatment of materials in biomedical applications or for surface cleaning and surfaces activation.

Country of Origin: Italy
Reference Number: TOIT20190226001
Publication Date: 28 February 2019

Summary

An Italian SME established in 2008 by a group of researchers has developed an innovative portable cold (40°C) atmospheric plasma device for surface treatment of materials. Companies looking for metal or polymer surface cleaning and treatment of materials in biomedical applications or looking to improve paint-ability, printability, adhesion and bonding between dissimilar materials of their products are sought for commercial agreement with technical assistance.

Description

An Italian SME has developed and patented an atmospheric pressure plasma jet device that allows the ionization of a noble gas (Argon) by applying a high voltage (HV) nearby the channel where the gas is flowing. In order to ensure a cold and efficient plasma a second power supply in the radio frequency (RF) regime is coupled to sustain the plasma in a cold (40°C) and homogenous way, ensuring high density of active species at room temperature: free ions, radicals and electrons. Thanks to a dedicated duct for vapours and aerosols transport it allows the plasma polymerization and deposition of functional and protective coatings. These features make this plasma device applicable in various sectors ranging from biomedical to industrial manufacturing for surface cleaning and surfaces activation in order to solve issues related to paint-ability, printability, adhesion and bonding between dissimilar materials. Some success case studies are related to the adhesion improvement of a material surface (of a metal or of a polymer) before the injection moulding of a second polymeric material, or to the adhesion improvement in fiber-reinforced composites. This plasma device is also mountable as plasma module in different 3D printers in order to hybridize an additive manufacturing system able to functionalize the polymer filament during the layer by layer deposition. Companies interested to use such a device on their products are sought for commercial agreements with technical assistance.
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Advantages and Innovations

Cold atmospheric plasma jets permit working in thermolabile substrates and avoid damages thanks to the maximum temperature generated on the surface of 40°C. Paper, silk, biopolymer (such as PCL, PLA) but also skin in biomedical application can be treated.
The possibility to generate a coating deposition in open air condition and the little dimension of device permits to realize treatments in production lines.

Stage Of Development

Already on the market

Requested partner

Companies looking for metal or polymer surface cleaning and treatment of materials in biomedical applications or interested to improve paint-ability, printability, adhesion and bonding between dissimilar materials of their products are sought for commercial agreement with technical assistance.

Cooperation offer is closed for requests