While not as commonly referenced as liquids, solids, or gases, plasma is much more common in the universe. It causes the Northern Lights, powers solar winds, and makes up the inside of stars. Plasma processing technology like PECVD, plasma etching is vital for semiconductor manufacturing and nanotechnology. Semiconductors are becoming more common in electronics and material technologies, and due to this, plasma processing applications are also increasing. Similarly, nanotechnology research is also promising to provide value in both commercial and non-commercial industries.
Plasma processing technology is a continuously changing and growing field of research, and plasma processing equipment has increasingly been making its way into university laboratories. Companies that develop and supply plasma systems to universities provide students with real plasma technology experience that they might use in their future jobs. Manufacturers and new product development teams should become aware of the many research applications for plasma systems since they will influence and inform future product development and manufacturing advances.
Through recent research, plasma treatment has become a popular way of activating the surface of materials like polypropylene and modifying it for several different products. Polypropylene has low surface energy, however, requiring it to be modified to enable it to be painted, coated, or bonded. That is where plasma systems have come in, and they are used for modifications like increasing the material wettability so that it can be used for various textiles. Manufacturers commonly use plasma systems for surface preparation to improve certain products' adhesions and bonding performance. They are easy to implement and provide reliable surface treatment results. That is why they have also become a favorite for universities to use to advance their students’ research.
Continuing research and developments in plasma processing will help to shape future devices, like DNA microarray chips, quantum computers, holographic memory, solar cells, and flexible displays. Plasma medicine (the use of low-temperature plasma (LTP) created by an electrical discharge) is also growing rapidly. The research and advancements in this industry have continued to prove their importance and show the need for further investigation into the healing of chronic wounds, cancer treatment, and more. As a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, LTP is now being used for the sterilization of PPE and ventilators. This one application highlights the importance of plasma technology in the healthcare industry and why there is such urgency placed on plasma research.
Research like this will keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible and keep plasma systems at the forefront of technology in many industries.
There are three broad categories that universities are generally exploring through plasma research. These are computer simulation, laboratory studies, and theoretical. However, research in plasma physics is even broader. Fusion sciences, fundamental physics of plasmas, astrophysics and space, laser-matter interactions, industrial processing, and beam and accelerator physics are all covered under the plasma physics banner.
Many universities are carrying out plasma research. Below are a few examples and what they are specifically working on:
Thierry Corporation is an industry leader in plasma science and technology in North America and prides itself on improving product quality and performance for its manufacturers. They offer a full range of products for manufacturing, production and Research and Development (R&D). Their plasma division possesses a fully functional lab for analysis and contractual service.