For about 20 years, VITO’s Plasma Technology Group has built up an internationally renowned expertise in the field of low pressure and atmospheric plasma technology for surface engineering. Initially, research was focused on the deposition of diamond-like carbon (DLC) and related materials for tribological applications. In 1997, the build up know-how and IPR in this area was successfully transferred to an industrial joint venture (Bekaert Dymonics).
Shortly afterwards, in 1998, it was decided to shift the focus from vacuum plasma to the emerging field of low temperature plasma processing at atmospheric pressure. Today, VITO is one of the leading research groups in this field with an extensive expertise in atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge technology. VITO's Atmospheric Plasma Team consists of 18 persons and is in addition strongly supported by several other persons working in the materials analysis team.
In 2003, VITO's Atmospheric Plasma Team started developing and patenting its own equipment (PlasmaSpot®, PlasmaZone® and PlasmaLine®). The main reason was the lack of commerically available atmospheric plasma equipment with efficient unlimited chemical injection.
VITO developed an efficient power supply which enables frequency (1 to 15 kHz) and power independent regulation. Many efforts have been put into this development and a lot of expertise has been build up in this period. In 2004, VITO started the search for an industrial partner who could build this power supply as a commercial prototype. Many power supplies have been tested, several corona suppliers were interested and have tried to realise this prototype. In 2005, AFS (a German corona supplier) demonstrated to be able to build an industrial power supply according to VITO's specifications with independent frequency and power regulation. With this industrial power supply (a for VITO tuned corona power supply) the frequency range extended from 1- 15 kHz to 1 - 100 kHz. Load matching can be realised for any plasma reactor configuration. Power input up to 60 kW can be realised at reasonable commercial prices. Meanwhile, AFS has become a key partner of VITO on a non-exclusive basis.
VITO has build up unique know-how, expertise and equipment over the past years in the area of atmospheric plasma technology for surface treatment and coating deposition. About ten DBD plasma systems are currently available at VITO, ranging from batch lab scale to semi-continuous and reel-to-reel integrated systems (see lab facilities).
Beginning of 2008, VITO and AFS intensified their cooperation. VITO concentrates on process development for its customers. AFS commercializes the VITO atmospheric plasma equipment and takes care of the world wide distribution and after sales services. Together, AFS and VITO can offer complete atmospheric plasma solutions for industrial partners: processes on industrial equipment.
Several lab scale systems have already been sold for R&D
purposes. Two commercial PlasmaSpot systems are sold, several
others are offered and in negotiation. 2 PlasmaLines are installed
in research labs. Several others will be installed in the next
coming months at other Research Labs, Universities and
companies all over Europe. A big PlasmaZone production machine is,
after successful process development, offered to another
company.
