Plasmas are used for cleaning, surface treatment, and deposition of a wide variety of materials. Ions, electrons and reactive neutrals in the plasma react with the surface of materials placed in the plasma environment. The result is a complete removal of organic contamination. For polymers, the process creates a permanent chemical modification of the surface that can significantly increase bond strength and other properties, such as the ability to laminate the polymer with other materials, without affecting the polymer's bulk properties.

APJeT's plasma treatment systems make it possible to use all of these processes at dramatically lower costs, and without the capital expense, operating expense and maintenance required for vacuum pumps, chambers and pressure locks.

Cleaning
Oxygen plasmas are ideal for cleaning. Through oxidation followed by volatilization, the plasma process removes organic contaminants such as cutting oils, skin oils and mold releases on the surface of most industrial materials. APJeT's proprietary APPJ plasma can also be used for photoresist ashing and flux removal in the semiconductor and electronics industries. Low-cost sterilization of medical devices is also possible, because the plasma destroys biological contaminants. Organic materials are completely converted to carbon dioxide and water vapor.

Surface Treatment
When a polymer is treated with a plasma, selected constituents of the gas are incorporated onto the surface of the material being treated. Almost any polymer surface may be modified to enhance adhesion characteristics, to improve biocompatibility or to make textiles more water-absorbing or water-repellant. Polymers used in composite materials can be treated to improve adhesion, thereby increasing the structure's strength-to-weight ratio. Many plastics are difficult to paint or to bond with adhesives. Paints, inks or adhesives applied to plasma-treated plastics achieve extraordinary permanence and stability. Plasma treatment can also be used to sterilize and improve the lubricity of catheters and tubes in medical applications.

Deposition
Plasmas are used to deposit thin films on a variety of substrates such as metals, plastics, glass and semiconductors. Plasma deposition done using APJeT's exclusive technology results in less surface contamination and higher quality films, because the system generates the film precursors downstream of the plasma, rather than inside the plasma. This eliminates film deposition on the electrode surfaces and greatly reduces the need for regular cleaning. As a result, maintenance costs for APJeT's patented technology are much lower than they are for other atmospheric and vacuum-based plasmas.

Numerous organizations around the world have adopted APJeT's proprietary APPJ® technology for research and commercial development.