The Challenge of Plasma Processing – Its Diversity

Cold gas plasma is used in many industries from aerospace to life sciences for permanent re-engineering of the molecular surface properties of polymers, elastomers, metals and ceramics to provide unique surfaces that do not affect the bulk properties of the material. Examples of applications are: corrosion resistance, etching, enhanced wear resistance, biocompatibility, adhesive bonding, altered wetting properties such as creation of either hydrophobic, oleophobic or hydrophilic surfaces, and providing unique vapor barrier or gas transport properties. The challenge with plasma surface treatment is that the choices and capabilities are expansive. Plasma surface treatment is not one process, but an entire tool box. Surfaces created by plasma gas modification include: functionalized, passivated, coated, charged or neutral, acidic or basic. Methods to create plasmas are also varied from continuous wave to pulsed plasma; use of simple inert gases or complex monomers; to unique chamber designs. This paper provides an overview of the myriad plasma processes employed to address the different requirements for materials in medical device applications