Plasma processes

At the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, surfaces are first of all fully characterized with the aim of selectively modifying their properties, and in a second step, they are functionalized using various modification and coating technologies.

• Process development for the plasma modification of surfaces (powders, fibers, surfaces and shaped bodies)

• Layer development

• Scratch protection, abrasion protection layers
• Production of adhesive or dehesive agents
• Corrosion protection layers
• Barrier layers (e.g. impervious to oxygen and water vapor)

• Functionalization of surfaces

• Biofunctionalization, chemical functionalization

• Development of plasma cleaning processes
• Development of plasma sterilization processes
• Surface and layer characterization

• Geometry, morphology, roughness
• Chemical composition, biological properties
• Interfacial energy, adhesion

• Development of processes and plants
• Upscaling of the laboratory process
• Consultations, evaluation und feasibility studies to establish plasma methods as a technological alternative
• Patent and literature research on subjects relating to plasma technology

We have at our disposal a series of plants to carry out and further develop various plasma-chemical and -physical processes mainly in the low-pressure and subatmospheric pressure plasmas (0.01 to 300 mbar). If appropriate, we also work with plasma processes at atmospheric pressure. Besides commercially available plants (some of them modified), we have plants of our own design. For special specimen geometries and process requirements, we can build suitable reactors and combine them with existing plant components (process gas, flow and pressure controls, vacuum components, high-frequency generators) to make laboratory or test facility plants.

• Vacuum surface treatment equipment
  
• Plasma diagnostics: Insights into what happens physically and chemically
  
• Surface analytics