Flexible plasma electrode design for effective treatment of irregular surfaces

Surface activation or cleaning by cold plasma treatment is getting more and more attention. Current plasma based solutions have mostly fixed electrodes, which are only suited for planar surfaces. Scientists at the HAWK developed a plasma device with flexible electrodes, which allow treatment of irregular surfaces.

Challenge

The plasma treatment conditions for optimal results heavily dependent on the material and the surface appearance. Hence, for every and each different object/surface to be treated, plasma devices with fixed electrodes would not only require optimization of the electrical parameter but would in addition require a new electrode design.

Our Solution

Scientists at the HAWK, University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Germany, developed a plasma device with flexible electrodes that align with the treated surfaces for optimal plasma generation and treatment.

Applications

Due to the flexible electrode design, new application fields can be explored, e.g. hand disinfection, germ reduction in food industry, pest control in farming industry or smart repair in automobile industry.

Developmental Status

Flexible electrode designs have been developed and tested using laboratory prototypes for hand disinfection and for pest control (plants).

The figure illustrates an embodiment of the invention (1) with two opposing arrays of electrode loops (2). The treated object (e.g. hand) will be placed in between these two arrays. The flexible electrodes will align with the irregular surface for optimal plasma treatment. Source: DE102015112200.

Patent Status

Granted patents in EP (DE, FR, GB) and CN (patent owner: HAWK, University of Applied Sciences and Arts).

References

DE102015112200
WO2017016761(A1)

Contact

Dr. Stefan Uhle
Patent Manager Life Science
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tel: +49 551 30724 154
Reference: BioC-1790-HAWK

Tags: Plasma physics

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