• Corrosion Science and Technology
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.15-20
• /
• 2009

Surface of PEEK(poly-ether-ether-ketone) was modified by chemical etching, plasma treatment and mechanical grinding to improve the plating adhesion. The plating characteristics of these samples were studied by the contact angle, plating thickness, gloss and adhesion. Chemical etching and plasma treatment increased wettability, adhesion and gloss. The contact angle of as-received PEEK was $61^{\circ}$. The contact angles of chemical etched, plasma treated or both were improved to the range of $15{\sim}33^{\circ}$. In the case of electroless plating, the thickest layer without blister was $1.6{\mu}m$. The adhesion strengths by chemical etching, plasma treatment or both chemical etching and plasma treatment were $75kgf/cm^2$, $102kgf/cm^2$, $113kgf/cm^2$, respectively, comparing to the $24kgf/cm^2$ of as-received. In the case of mechanically ground PEEKs, the adhesion strengths were higher than those unground, with the sacrifice of surface gloss. The gloss of untreated PEEK were greater than mechanically ground PEEKs. Plating thickness increased linearly with the plating times.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
• /
• v.5 no.4
• /
• pp.9-16
• /
• 2004

Silk fibers were subjected to argon and ethylene plasma treatments in order to improve the interfacial adhesion with polylactic acid (PLA). After the plasma surface treatment, the surface morphology and surface adhesion of silk fibers to the PLA resin were largely changed. Various plasma treatment conditions were used in this work: 10, 25, 50, 100 and 150 W of electric power, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 minutes of treatment time, and 10 and 50 sccm of a gas flow rate. The interfacial shear strength of plasma-treated Silk/PLA biocomposites was measured by a single fiber micro-droplet debonding test method. The result provided an optimal plasma treatment condition to obtain the improved interfacial adhesion in the Silk/PLA biocomposites.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.12 no.9
• /
• pp.740-746
• /
• 2002

In this study, the polycarbonate surface was treated by $O_2$/ Ar gases plasma for the enhancement of adhesion with Cu electrode. From the point of view of hydrophilicity and the functionality, the micro-roughness, new functional groups and oxygen content of the polycarbonate surface were increased by the $O_2$/ Ar gases plasma treatment. The Cu films deposited on the as-received polycarbonate were easily detached while, after the$ O_2$/ Ar gases plasma treatment the adhesive Cu films on polycarbonate could be obtained. These results can be explained that the polycarbonate had a hydrophilic surface with uniform micro-roughness and new functional groups by $O_2$/ Ar gases plasma treatment. Therefore,$O_2$/ Ar gases plasma treatment is a promising method for improvement of adhesion between polycarbonate and Cu electrode.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.41 no.6
• /
• pp.435-438
• /
• 2004

MOCVD is one of the major deposition techniques for Cu thin films and Ta-Si-N is one of promising barrier metal candidates for Cu with high thermal stability. Effects of hydrogen plasma pretreatment of the underlying Ta-Si-N film surface on the Cu nucleation in Cu MOCVD were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Auger electron emission spectrometry analyses. Cu nucleation in MOCVD is enhanced as the rf-power and the plasma exposure time are increased in the hydrogen plasma pretreatment. The optimal plasma treatment process condition is the rf-power of 40 Wand the plasma exposure time of 2 min. The hydrogen gas flow rate in the hydrogen plasma pretreatment process does not affect Cu nucleation much. The mechanism through which Cu nucleation is enhanced by the hydrogen plasma pretreatment of the Ta-Si-N film surface is that the nitrogen and oxygen atoms at the Ta-Si-N film surface are effectively removed by the plasma treatment. Consequently the chemical composition was changed from Ta-Si-N(O) into Ta-Si at the Ta-Si-N film surface, which is favorable for Cu nucleation.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.109-118
• /
• 2017

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of intermittent plasma and electrolysis treatments on lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. oak-leaf.), nutrient solution components ($NO_3{^-}-N$, $NH_4{^+}-N$, $PO{_4}^{3-}-P$, $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$ and $Mg^{2+}$) and environmental parameters (electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids and pH). The recirculating hydroponic cultivation system consisted of planting port, LED lamp, water reservoir and circulating pump. Nutrient solution was circulated in the following order: reservoir ${\rightarrow}$ filtration-plasma or filtration-electrolysis ${\rightarrow}$ planting port ${\rightarrow}$ reservoir. The results showed that nutrient solution components and environmental parameters were changed by plasma or electrolysis treatment. Lettuce growth was not affected by the intermittent plasma or electrolysis treatment with 30 minutes or 90 minutes, respectively. The roots of the lettuce was damaged by excessive plasma and electrolysis treatment. Electrolysis treatment had greater effect on than plasma treatment because of the accumulation of high levels of TRO (Total Residual Oxidants).

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.17-20
• /
• 2015

The physical effects of H-plasma treatment on ZnO thin film have been studied using photoluminescence(PL) spectroscopy. Four characteristic peaks have been identified: (i) $D^0X$ peak (neutral donor-bound exciton), showing relatively small integrated intensity after H-plasma treatment, indicates that H-plasma passivates the neutral donors in ZnO at low temperatures. The rapid decrease in the integrated intensity of the peak as the temperature goes up is considered to be due to the ionization of neutral donors. (ii) H-related complex-bound exciton peak appears at the low temperatures (10 K~80 K) after H-plasma treatment, showing the same thermal evolution as $D^0X$ peak. (iii) FX (free exciton) peak starts to show up at 60 K and grows more and more as the temperature goes up, which is considered to be related to the increase in free electron concentration in the film. (iv) violet band is intensified after H-plasma, which means more defects and impurities are generated by H-plasma process.

• Journal of Ceramic Processing Research
• /
• v.13 no.spc2
• /
• pp.193-197
• /
• 2012

Oxygen plasma has been treated on the surface of indium-tin-oxide (ITO) to improve the efficiency of the organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) device. The plasma treatment was expected to inject the holes effectively due to the control of an ITO work-function and the reduction of surface roughness. To optimize the treatment condition, a surface resistance and morphology of the ITO surface were investigated. The effect on the electrical properties of the OLEDs was evaluated as a function of oxygen plasma powers (0, 200, 250, 300, and 450 W). The electrical properties of the devices were measured in a device structure of ITO/TPD/Alq3/BCP/LiF/Al. It was found the plasma treatment of the ITO surface affects on the efficiency of the device. The efficiency of the device was optimized at the plasma power of 250 W and decreased at higher power than 250 W. The maximum values of luminance, luminous power efficiency, and external quantum efficiency of the plasma treated devices increase by 1.4 times, 1.4 times, and 1.2 times, respectively, compared to those of the non-treated ones.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Dyers and Finishers Conference
• /
• 2009.03a
• /
• pp.14-20
• /
• 2009

Atmospheric pressure air plasma was applied for treatment of different kinds of natural bamboo fiber to improve their mechanical properties and surface characteristics, which are suitable for adhesion and dyeing. The tensile strength and Young modulus of bamboo fiber were significantly improved; SEM and AFM study show that the surface of fiber became cleaner and rougher after plasma treatment. Plasma treatment caused the cracking, removing of the protective skin of alkali-untreated fiber and etching to form a cleaner and rougher surface. The dyeability of both groups of bamboo fiber which are used for composite and textile purposes is significantly enhanced after treatment.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.20-27
• /
• 2006

On the purpose of surface modifications of polypropylene meltblown(PPMB) nonwovens, PPMB nonwovens were treated in the plasma system by oxygen atmosphere with different treatment time and discharge power. Dimensional change and physical properties of the treated nonwovens were evaluated. Contact angles onto PPMB nonwovens about water and methyleneiodide were measured and surface energies were calculated by Owen's method. As the results, microcraters were observed on the surface of treated nonwovens. Tenacity and breaking strain of PPMB nonwovens decreased with increasing treatment time and discharge power. Surface energy of PPMB nonwovens increased by plasma treatment. Meanwhile, the friction static voltage and dyeability of PPMB nonwovens have enhanced to some extent by oxygen plasma treatment due to the improvement of surface hydrophilicity.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.401-409
• /
• 2018

Decay of fruit is one of the greatest issues in fruit storage. Purpose: In this study, citrus sterilization was performed to evaluate a dry sterilization method using an atmospheric-pressure nonthermal plasma treatment based on a dielectric-barrier discharge technique. Methods: Citrus samples were stored under four different environmental conditions as follows: group A had cold storage with plasma treatment with a temperature of $6.2{\pm}1.0^{\circ}C$ and relative humidity (RH) of $93.4{\pm}8.2%$, group B had ambient-temperature storage with $22.9{\pm}2.3^{\circ}C$ and $82.1{\pm}4.5%$ RH, group C ambient-temperature storage with plasma treatment with $25.3{\pm}2.2^{\circ}C$ and $90.0{\pm}2.8%$ RH, and group D had cold storage with $5.7{\pm}1.0^{\circ}C$ and $93.4{\pm}6.5%$ RH. Results: As a result of citrus surface sterilization by plasma treatment, treatment groups A and C together showed an average of 16.1 CFU/mL of mold colonies, while control groups B and D showed an average of $2.2{\times}10^2CFU/mL$ or approximately 13 times greater than the treatment groups. Regarding the mean concentration of aerobic bacteria colonies, the treatment groups (A and C) and control groups (B and D) showed an average of 7.1 CFU/mL and $1.9{\times}10^3CFU/mL$, respectively. This is approximately a 270-fold difference in the concentration of pathogen colonies between treatment and control groups. Conclusions: The results showed the potential of nonthermal plasma treatment for citrus storage in enhancing storage duration and quality preservation.