Processing of Films and Fabrics with the MOD-VIII Roll-to-Roll One Atmosphere Uniform Glow Discharge Plasma (OAUGDP®) Reactor

Abstract

Summary form only given. Industrial atmospheric pressure plasma treatment has unique advantages over vacuum plasma technology for material surface energy enhancement, surface cleaning and decontamination, sterilization, surface etching and related tasks. The MOD-VIII plasma reactor studied in this paper consists of a fabric feed system, a gas feed system, a water cooling system, and a OAUGDPreg plasma reactor. We have shown that a roll of polymer film or fabric can be run through the reactor while being exposed to the plasma generated between a flat and a cylindrical drum electrode. The fabric is cooled by contact with the stainless steel water-cooled rotating drum electrode; the fabric exposure time is precisely controlled by a belted drive system driven by a variable-speed motor; and the fabric tension is controlled by a second variable-speed motor on the take-up roll. The fabric surface charge is drained at two grounded locations after treatment. We have obtained a uniform OAUGDPreg plasma with no filaments or pin holing in the exposed fabric. Subsequent measurement of the surface energy by the sessile water drop and related tests show that the surface energy after exposure is raised to levels well above those required for industrial use. Data on the uniformity of the surface energy in the cross and machine direction will be presented. This flexible MOD-VIII plasma reactor can be used for a wide range of material surface treatment purposes.