Method for treating an elongated object, apparatus and method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current plasma technologies for treating elongated objects, such as filaments, are inefficient and inhomogeneous due to high plasma intensity and sensitivity to gas composition, leading to poor surface treatment and environmental concerns, especially in industrial-scale applications.
Innovation Solution
A method using a plasma process with a guiding structure that surrounds the elongated object with a unitary section and an electrode structure with a dielectric body and curved sections, allowing stable operation at atmospheric pressure, enabling homogeneous plasma treatment on both outer and inner surfaces without affecting bulk material properties, and allowing for the deposition of polymer coatings and nanocomposites.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high intensity plasma is used to treat elongated objects, then treatment efficiency is improved, but treatment homogeneity deteriorates and material melting risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plasma treatment process is segmented into multiple sequential stages with different plasma intensities. A first plasma stage operates at high intensity for rapid surface modification, followed by a second plasma stage at reduced intensity to achieve homogeneous treatment and complete the process without melting the material. This segmentation allows the system to benefit from both high efficiency and uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The plasma treatment employs periodic pulsing with alternating high and low intensity phases. The plasma is activated in cycles where high intensity pulses provide rapid treatment effect, followed by lower intensity periods that allow for homogeneous distribution and prevent thermal accumulation. This periodic action resolves the contradiction between speed and uniformity.
2Manufacturing precision
If wet chemical processing is used to treat polymeric materials, then surface properties are improved, but environmental harm and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces wet chemical processing with a plasma-based physical-chemical process. Instead of using liquid chemicals that require heating, drying, and extensive water consumption, the plasma process uses ionized gas to achieve surface modification. This substitution eliminates the need for harmful chemicals, reduces energy consumption, and removes environmental contamination issues while maintaining effective surface property improvement.
Solution Approach 2:
The process transitions from liquid-phase chemical treatment to gas-phase plasma treatment by changing the physical state parameter. This parameter change allows the treatment to occur without liquid waste, reduces thermal energy requirements, and eliminates the need for drying stages, thereby reducing environmental impact while achieving comparable or superior surface modification.
3Reliability
If pulsed surface discharge process is used, then plasma treatment is achieved, but treatment inhomogeneity increases due to sequential plasma channel formation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention ensures continuous plasma action by maintaining overlapping plasma channels throughout the treatment process. Instead of allowing plasma channels to form sequentially with gaps between them, the system adjusts parameters to ensure continuous plasma presence across the entire surface. This continuity eliminates the inhomogeneity caused by sequential channel formation and ensures uniform treatment coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The plasma discharge parameters are dynamically adjusted during the treatment process to maintain optimal channel distribution. The system modulates plasma intensity and timing to ensure that new plasma channels form before previous ones dissipate, creating a dynamic overlap that ensures complete and homogeneous surface coverage. This dynamic control prevents the inhomogeneity inherent in static sequential discharge.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method achieves a stable, efficient, and environmentally friendly plasma treatment that is scalable and suitable for heat-sensitive materials, improving surface properties without altering bulk characteristics, and can be applied to various materials, including polymeric fibers and ceramics.
Implementation Method 1
applying potential differences between electrodes of an electrode structure to generate the plasma process
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for treating an elongated object using a plasma process. The method comprises the steps of providing an elongated object in a planar electrode structure, and applying potential differences between electrodes of an electrode structure to generate the plasma process. Further, the method comprises at least partially surrounding the elongated object by a unitary section of the guiding structure, the electrode structure being associated with the unitary section.