| AVS 57th International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Advanced Surface Engineering | Monday Sessions |
| Session SE+PS-MoM |
| Session: | Atmospheric Pressure Plasmas |
| Presenter: | L. Bardos, Uppsala University, Sweden |
| Authors: | L. Bardos, Uppsala University, Sweden H. Barankova, Uppsala University, Sweden |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
Advantage of virtually unlimited substrate sizes makes the cold atmospheric plasma very attractive for treatments of surfaces e.g., for improving the lifetime and performances of renewable energy conversion systems. Samples of fiberglass-reinforced vinylester with a vinylester based gelcoat from windmill turbine blades and steel sheets used for ocean buoys in the linear wave energy converters have been treated by the Fused Hollow Cathode (FHC) and Hybrid Hollow Electrode Activated Discharge (H-HEAD) atmospheric plasma, generated in Ar, Ne and a mixture of air with water. The resulting surface energy has been examined by contact angle measurements. Turbine blade surface becomes hydrophilic after the treatment, sticking of the water droplets is reduced and the surface dries fast after rain, snow or icing. An increased surface tension after plasma treatment of steel relaxes within about 60 min. However, the SEM observations of paint-steel interfaces after an immediate application of the protective paint on treated surfaces have confirmed a considerable improvement of the paint adhesion that can provide better corrosion resistance and lifetime of buoys. Results of tests under different plasma parameters are presented and discussed.