Application of Plasma Surface Treatment to Soild-State Microscopic Particulates

The plasma-assisted improvement of wettability and flowability of fine powders is described. The plasma down-stream reactor designed for an adequate treatment of particulates allows efficient surface modification and functionalization of particulates. It is discussed that the resulting rapidity of the processes is due to the homogeneous dispersion of particulates in the reactor. This enables intense particle/plasma interaction presumably due to the formation of floating potential sheaths around each single particle immersed in the plasma. Thus, although the overall energy influx applied is in the range of 10 to 100 J (.) m(-2) of the particulate surfaces, the treatment time in the order of a tenth of a second instead of hours compared to conventional processes.