Microwave Discharge Supported by Gyrotron Radiation on a Dielectric Substrate with Silver Particles in Air to Create a Metallized Coating on ABS Plastic

Abstract

The results of experiments on the use of microwave discharge plasma supported by microwave radiation of a pulsed (6 ms) gyrotron for the transfer of matter from a metallic silver nanopowder to the surface of a dielectric ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic target are presented. The experiments are carried out at atmospheric and reduced pressure (up to 50 Torr) of air at a microwave radiation power density from 1.25 to 12 kW/cm². The spatial structures of microwave discharge plasma propagating near a quartz substrate with a silver nanopowder layer are studied. It is determined that the discharge can have at least three types of the spatial structure: (a) localized microwave discharge at the points of the discharge initiation; (b) microwave discharge propagating through the quartz substrate; (c) microwave discharge propagating along the quartz substrate. The metal layer deposited on the plastic surface is characterized using electron microscopy.