Frequently Asked Questions

How fast will the plasma treat the surface?
The speed depends on the application and the sample composition. Most plastic surfaces are activated for adhesion in a few tenths of a second with no appreciable heating of the sample.  Many customers are extremely satisfied with the throughput of Surfx plasma tools.

Do any parts of the plasma source wear out?
No.  The Atomflo™ is designed to give years of trouble-free operation under continuous use in high volume manufacturing.  The RF plasma does not erode the electrodes such as occurs in thermal plasma torches.

What types of gases can I feed to the plasma source?
Generally, you feed argon or helium and up to 2 vol.% of molecular gases, such as oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and carbon tetrafluoride. The molecules will be dissociated by the plasma into atoms, e.g., O, N, H or F.  The inert gas allows you to have complete control over the plasma chemistry.

Where do I place the plasma source relative to my sample surface?
If possible, the plasma source should be placed within 4 mm of the sample surface. The reactive atoms generated by the plasma are quickly consumed at atmospheric pressure. Moving the source farther away from the surface increases the process time.

What is the advantage of atmospheric pressure operation? Can I use the Atomflo™ in a vacuum system if I want to?
The advantage of atmospheric plasmas is their ease of use, cost effectiveness, and ability to continuously treat materials of any size and shape. Of course, our plasma sources are easily adapted for vacuum operation. We regularly design and build plasmas for integration into a customer’s existing vacuum system.

What is the difference between downstream and direct plasma processing?
That’s a good question! Our pictures of the Atomflo™ and Plasma Flow Source™ show the plasma flowing out of the device. Actually, at this point the gas is no longer strictly a plasma, because practically all of the electrons and ions have been stripped away. Our products are used for downstream plasma processing. The plasma is sustained between the electrodes inside the device. What flows out is primarily neutral species, i.e., atoms, radicals and metastable molecules. These reactive neutral species are responsible for the reactions that occur on the substrate surface.

Does the plasma generate UV light?
Ultraviolet light is generated by the plasma, but its intensity is very low, and we have not heard of it ever causing any damage to treated parts.

What safety concerns should I be aware of when operating the Atomflo™?
Oxygen plasmas generate a small amount of ozone, so you should operate the source under adequate ventilation, such as inside a hood.  The plasma source does not present an electrical shock or burn hazard.  This being said you should employ the same safety precautions as with any equipment that uses electricity and compressed gases.  Read the manual and follow the instructions.  Always wear your safety glasses!