Considering the plasma reactor geometry is crucial for the development and up-scaling of plasma processes. We thus put more effort into reactor construction for tailored, economical solutions for the transfer into industry.

PILOT-SCALE REACTORS

At Empa, there are two kind of pilot-scale reactors (beside several lab-scale reactors): a Web Coater and a Fiber Coater. Therefore, plasma processes can be demonstrated close to conditions required for production.

EQUIPMENT

The 3 m heigh Web Coater consists of four chambers enabling individual treatments in a one-step process. The upper chamber contains the winding facilities for textiles, membranes, and foils at velocities up to 100 m/min at a width of up to 65 cm.
The Fiber Coater allows air-to-air treatment of fibers for plasma cleaning, metallization, and plasma polymerization.

UP-SCALING

The scale-up of plasma processes developed at Empa could be shown with the pilot-scale reactors and were successfully transferred into industry.

PROCESS DEVELOPMENT

• Plasma activation
• Plasma polymerization
• Sputtering (metallization)

Contact

Dr. Dirk Hegemann 
+41 58 765 72 68
dirk.hegemann@empa.ch  

Martin Amberg 
+41 58 765 75 74
martin.amberg@empa.ch