Plasma Treatment

Plasma Treatment for Advanced Surface Modifications

Enhancing Biological Compatibility for Biomedical Applications

Plasma Treatment is a powerful technique for surface modification designed to improve the biological compatibility of treated products. In the biomedical field, polymers must not only meet technical specifications but also interact favorably with biological environments. Biomat’s Plasma Treatment services provide an effective solution by enhancing the surface properties of materials, avoiding the need for costly material changes.

Why Choose Plasma Treatment?

Biocompatibility often requires optimized interactions between devices and their biological environments. Surface modification techniques, such as plasma treatment, can tailor these interactions, ensuring the desired biological response without changing the material itself.

Biomat offers expertise in customized plasma treatments, applying advanced technology to meet the precise needs of researchers and manufacturers in the diagnostics and pharmaceutical industries.

Key Features of Plasma Treatment

Among surface modification techniques, cold plasma treatment stands out for its unique characteristics:

• Versatile Surface Preparation: Ideal for creating hydrophilic or hydrophobic surfaces on various polymers.
• Surface Cleaning/Etching: Removes contaminants at the molecular level, improving cleanliness and adhesion.
• Selective Surface Action: Alters only the surface layer without affecting the core material, making it suitable for sensitive polymers.
• Low-Temperature Processing: Maintains the integrity of the polymer with minimal thermal impact.
• Environmentally Friendly: As a dry process, it produces no chemical waste and requires no post-treatment processing.

Cost-Effective: Reduces the need for expensive raw material changes by modifying existing surfaces.

Plasma Treatment Process

Our plasma treatment involves advanced equipment, including a vacuum chamber and precision gas inlet systems. The process is as follows:

1. Evaluation: Our experts assess the client’s requirements, including application goals, material properties, and cost considerations.
2. Material Assessment: The characteristics of the material to be treated are carefully evaluated to ensure compatibility.
3. Treatment Process:
   • Articles are placed in a vacuum chamber.
   • A controlled vacuum level is achieved.
   • A flow of one or more gases fills the chamber, and energy is supplied through electrodes to generate plasma.
   • The plasma’s reactive species interact with the surface of the device, modifying its properties.

This process is efficient, typically taking seconds to minutes and operating at near-room temperatures, which preserves the bulk properties of the material while enhancing the surface.

Applications of Biomat Plasma Treatment

Biomat’s Plasma Treatment is applicable to a wide range of materials and applications, each customized to achieve specific surface properties. Here are some of the key applications:

• Plasma Cleaning: Effectively removes organic contaminants, providing a clean surface on polymers, glass, or metals at the molecular level.
• Surface Activation: Uses reactive gases (e.g., O₂, N₂) to alter hydrophilicity or create functional groups that enhance biochemical reactivity.
• Plasma-Induced Grafting: Utilizes inert gases (e.g., Ar, He) to create cross-linked, reactive surfaces.
• Plasma Deposition: Applies thin polymer layers through gases like methane, creating new surface properties.
• Enhancing Wettability: Many polymers have naturally low wettability (contact angle > 90°), which can hinder adhesion. Plasma treatment adjusts the surface properties to improve adhesion for various applications, such as:
  • Binding proteins for immunoassays and tissue culture surfaces.
  • Gluing, inking, and painting applications where surface adhesion is critical.

Customizing the Plasma Treatment Process

Biomat tailors the plasma treatment process to each project, taking into account:

• Raw Material Properties: Understanding how each material reacts to plasma.
• Part Shape: Adjusting treatment parameters based on the geometry of the device.
• Intended Application: Defining specific goals, such as enhanced hydrophilicity or surface activation.

Our scientists adjust key parameters—gas type, exposure time, and power levels—to achieve the required surface modification. After treatment, all products undergo rigorous analysis for uniformity, treatment effectiveness, and durability during storage.

Examples of Biomat Plasma Treatments

Biomat’s plasma treatments have been successfully applied to a variety of products, including:

• Polypropylene (PP) products for PCR applications.
• Filters and membranes with enhanced performance.
• Biochips with improved surface reactivity.
• Glass slides for advanced biological assays.

All treated products demonstrate improved performance in their biological activity and assay applications, thanks to Biomat’s precise plasma treatment.

Contact Us for Customized Plasma Treatments

With over 30 years of experience, Biomat offers customized plasma treatments that meet both technical and economic requirements. Contact us today to discuss how our plasma surface modification can enhance your products, ensuring the best results in your biomedical and research applications.