Alter Surface Chemistry
The ability to control and tailor surfaces with specific chemical functionalities is oftentimes critical for studying surface interactions of materials or improving interfacial, biological, and electronic properties for optimal material performance. Depending on the process gas and processing conditions used, plasma can alter the surface to be more hydrophilic or hydrophobic, or to introduce specific chemical functionalities to the surface without affecting the bulk material. This page provides brief summaries on the application of plasma treatment to alter surface chemistry.
Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymers (GFRP)
Harrick Plasma Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymers (GFRP) are widely used in high-performance applications such as wind turbine blades, aerospace components, and automotive structures due to their high strength-to-weight ratio and tunable mechanical properties. However,...
Cyclic Olefin Polymer (COP) Microfluidics
Harrick Plasma Cyclic olefin polymers (COP) and copolymers (COC) have emerged as leading materials for advanced microfluidic and bioanalytical devices. Their popularity is driven by a unique combination of properties, including excellent optical transparency, low...
PMMA Microfluidics
Plasma cleaning and activation are the near-universal first step for working with PMMA in microfluidics. Exposing PMMA to oxygen or air plasma breaks surface polymer chains and grafts oxygen-containing groups such as hydroxyl and carboxyl onto the...
Silicone
Silicone elastomers are widely used in medical devices and soft robotic systems because of their flexibility, chemical stability, and ease of fabrication. Examples include breast implants, urinary catheters, neural shunts, pacemaker leads, tubing,...
Wunderlichips
For many microfluidic laboratories and early-stage companies, device fabrication can become a significant demand on time and resources. While many groups are capable of fabricating their own chips, doing so often requires dedicated cleanroom...