The Plasma Advantage
Remove Coatings
CLEAN SURFACES WITHOUT DAMAGING THE SUBSTRATE.
The PlasmaBlast Surface Preparation System removes coatings while preserving the surface underneath, it does not change the profile or material properties of the metal. This has been proven by NAVSEA through extensive high cycle fatigue testing on HY80 type carbon steel. The plasma transforms the coating into primarily carbon dioxide and water vapor, while the rest is released as dust.
FAST AND PRECISE COATING REMOVAL ON IRREGULAR SURFACES
PlasmaBlast systems treat the surface, including any cracks, crevices, or profile valleys. The plasma flows like a fluid and removes coatings covering any shapes or complex geometries, getting into tight and/or confined spaces which other tools cannot. The system expedites fastener release and coating removal over welds for non-destructive inspection and testing.
Clean Surfaces
ACHIEVE A SUPERIOR RESULT WITHOUT CHEMICALS OR ABRASIVES. AVOID COSTLY CONTAINMENT AND CLEAN UP.
Surface cleaning performed with a PlasmaBlast system is driven by the dry chemical etching effect of the plasma-generated reactive species. Any contamination is immediately vaporized and blown off by compressed air, resulting in a pristine surface. Since there are no added chemicals or media, no residue is left behind on the surface. Plasma treatments unlock the chemical bonding sites of the surface for superior bonding and adhesion, but they do not damage or remove any material from the original substrate.
CHEMICAL AND MEDIA-FREE CLEANING OF THE SURFACE
The PlasmaBlast system provides efficient cleaning of surfaces due the rapid reactions between plasma species and contaminants. Plasma is utilized as either a replacement for, or in conjunction with traditional media blasting methods of surface cleaning, including: baking soda, dry ice, grit, and plastic media (PMB). The need for solvents is largely negated, which saves the cost of replenishment, removes a threat to applicators’ health, and eliminates the negative environmental impact of the waste stream.
Promote Adhesion
ACHIEVE LONGER & STRONGER BONDS
A plasma-treated surface will result in a stronger bond due to the addition of reactive chemical species to the surface.
ENHANCE MOLECULAR ATTRACTION
The delivery of these species forms a linking site, which increases the surface energy and facilitates the spread of the coating across the material. This results in a larger contact area between the material and the coating, which both enhances bond strength and improves corrosion resistance.
Dolly Pull Testing: Plasma treated surface has 3X the bond strength over solvent wiped surface
Non-Thermal Plasma
Solids → Liquids → Gases → Plasma. This fourth state of matter’s properties are dependent upon the chemical composition of the materials which form it.
PLASMA IN EVERYDAY LIFE
In everyday life, people observe plasma in the aurorae, lightning, fluorescent light bulbs and use plasma through their spark plugs to start their car.
Each of these applications have a plasma that is different due to the composition, pressure, and amount of energy applied. Plasma applications are typically separated by pressure (low, atmospheric, and high) and their thermodynamic properties (thermal and non-thermal).
Examples of low-pressure plasma applications are semiconductor wafer cleaning and fluorescent light bulbs. High pressure plasmas are studied for hypersonic vehicles, space craft, and fusion energy.
In the past 30 years, atmospheric pressure plasmas have gained interest for their use in applications similar to low pressure applications, but without the expensive equipment required to maintain a low pressure environment.
HARNESSING ATMOSPHERIC PLASMA
Atmospheric pressure plasma is formed at ambient temperature and pressure in a specific gas or gas mixtures such as air, carbon dioxide, argon, helium, water vapor, etc. The energy applied to these gases causes a “breakdown”, where gas molecules are ionized resulting in free electrons. These electrons then become energetic due to the energy applied and react with the surrounding gas to form reactive chemical species.
