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Atmospheric Pressure Plasma
As the official distributor for Korea’s APP Corporation, Creative Technology offers the “Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Series” to customers in Japan. Atmospheric pressure plasma is a surface modification technology used to alter the surface properties of materials. Traditionally, plasma processing required large-scale facilities, but these products have garnered attention in recent years for enabling plasma applications with compact and simplified equipment.
① High Productivity in Atmospheric Pressure Environments
Since no large-scale vacuum equipment is required, the system facilitates seamless inline integration in factories, reduces space requirements, and lowers installation costs.
② Minimized Damage to Workpieces with Low-Power Plasma
By optimizing oxygen radicals, the system delivers maximum plasma efficiency with minimal energy. Additionally, it generates almost no ozone, making it an environmentally friendly solution.
③ Reduced Running Costs with “Direct Plasma Method”
The system employs the “direct plasma method,” which irradiates plasma directly onto the workpiece. This approach significantly reduces energy consumption by operating at exceptionally low voltage. Additionally, it minimizes the use of inert gases, further lowering running costs.
④ Simple Plasma Head Design
The simple structure of the plasma head ensures safe and stable glow plasma generation (plasma produced by current flow through gas). Its straightforward construction minimizes the need for consumable parts.
Surface modification refers to the process of treating or processing the surface of a product or component using various methods to alter its properties. For example, in metals, it is commonly used to enhance durability, while in films or plastics, it improves surface hydrophilicity or adhesion. This technique is widely employed to enhance the functionality of products.
Below is a list of examples of surface modification techniques.
| Methodology | Purpose | |
|---|---|---|
| Heat Treatment | A surface modification technique that utilizes temperature changes, such as heating and cooling, to alter surface properties. | Improves wear resistance, Enhances smoothness, Extends product lifespan |
| Coating | A surface modification technique that involves applying another material to the surface to protect the base material. | Improves wear resistance, Enhances smoothness, Alters optical properties |
| Chemical Treatment | A surface modification technique that uses chemical agents, such as acids or alkalis, to treat the surface. | Improves adhesion, Enhances printability |
| UV Irradiation | A surface modification technique that uses ultraviolet light to remove organic substances adhered to the surface. | Improves adhesion |
| Plasma Treatment | A surface modification technique that utilizes plasma to clean and treat the material’s surface. | Surface cleaning, Modifies hydrophilicity, Improved adhesion |
For example, water can exist as ice (solid), liquid water, or water vapor (gas), depending on the temperature. In standard school lessons, matter is often categorized into three states: solid, liquid, and gas. However, there is a fourth state of matter beyond these three, known as “plasma.” When heat or electrical energy is applied to a gas, the electrons orbiting the atoms become energized, causing the outer electrons to break free. Atoms without their outer electrons become unstable and highly active. This energized, ionized state is what we call “plasma.”
Plasma naturally exists in phenomena such as lightning and auroras, but in recent years, plasma technology has been utilized in various industrial applications. When plasma is applied to an object, it imparts new functionalities to the material, altering properties such as hydrophilicity (how easily it interacts with water) and adhesion (how well it bonds with other materials).
Traditionally, large-scale vacuum equipment has been essential for plasma irradiation. Vacuum Plasma Processing involves placing the target object inside a sealed chamber, where plasma fills the interior and interacts with the object’s surface, triggering chemical reactions. While the vacuum environment minimizes the risk of impurities contaminating the surface during treatment, maintaining a vacuum requires complex equipment and significant time. As a result, this technology was not easily accessible for widespread or casual use.
On the other hand, atmospheric pressure plasma is generated by flowing gases such as nitrogen or noble gases between electrodes and applying high-frequency, high-voltage energy. While the mechanism may sound complex, the key advantage is that plasma processing can be performed under atmospheric pressure — the same conditions as the human living environment. This makes it easy to use and allows for continuous processing. Since there is no need for bulky equipment like vacuum pumps or chambers, this technology can be utilized even with limited budget or space.
As the official distributor for Korea’s APP Corporation, Creative Technology offers the Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Equipment Series to customers in Japan. If you have any questions or specific requirements, please feel free to contact us.
APP’s atmospheric pressure plasma requires no major facility modifications. Plasma treatment, such as improving the wettability (contact angle) of workpieces, can be achieved with compact and simple equipment.