Preparation and properties of supersonic atmospheric plasma sprayed TiB2−SiC coating

With the TiB2−SiC powders after spray granulation and vacuum calcination as raw materials,the TiB2−SiC coating was prepared by supersonic atmospheric plasma spraying(SAPS).The effects of spraying power and spraying distance on the properties of the TiB2−SiC coating were investigated and the fabrication processing of SAPS was optimized.The results show that the sprayed powders after calcination have a uniform particle size distribution,good sphericity and enhanced fluidity.The coating prepared by the calcined powders has a dense structure and high deposition efficiency.When the calcined TiB2−SiC powders are used and the spraying power is 95 kW and the spraying distance is 150 mm during supersonic plasma spraying,the obtained TiB2−SiC coating behaves the best comprehensive performance with the porosity,microhardness,bonding strength and resistivity equal to 5.6%,3.57 GPa,18.3 MPa and 10.8 mΩ·cm,respectively.

Surface Treatment of PET Nonwovens with Atmospheric Plasma

In this study, polyethylene-terephthalate （PET） nonwovens are treated using an atmospheric plasma and the effects of the treatment time, treatment power and discharge distance on the ability of water-penetration into the nonwovens are investigated. The result indicates that the method can improve the wettability of PET nonwovens remarkably, but the aging decay of the sample＇s wettability is found to be notable as a function of the storage time after treatment due to the internal rotation of the single bond of surface macromolecules. As shown by SEM and XPS analysis, the etching and surface reaction are significant, and water-penetration weight is found to increase remarkably with the increasing power. This variation can be attributed to momentum transfer and enhanced higher-energy particle excitation.

The Interactions of Two Cold Atmospheric Plasma Jets

This paper presents the interactions between two cold atmospheric plasma jets. By changing the experimental conditions including the gas flow rate, the applied voltage, the power supply frequency and the inter-electrode distance d, three different interaction modes, attraction, repulsion and combination, were observed. It is shown that the interaction modes of the two jets are principally affected by the electrodes, the gas flow rate, the plasma jets and the power supply frequency.

Applications of cold atmospheric plasmas(CAPs)in agriculture:a brief review and the novel development of a radio-frequency CAP jet generator for plant mutation

Cold atmospheric plasmas(CAPs)have shown great applicability in agriculture.Many kinds of CAP sources have been studied in agricultural applications to promote plant growth and cure plant diseases.We briefly review the state-of-the-art stimulating effects of atmospheric-pressure dielectricbarrier-discharge(AP-DBD)plasmas,after the direct or indirect treatment of plants for growth promotion and disease control.We then discuss the special demands on the characteristics of the CAP sources for their applications in plant mutation breeding.An atmospheric and room temperature plasma(ARTP)jet generator with a large plasma irradiation area,a high enough concentration of chemically reactive species and a low gas temperature is designed for direct plant mutagenesis.Experimental measurements of the electrical,thermal and optical features of the ARTP generator are conducted.Then,an ARTP-P(ARTP for plant mutagenesis)mutation breeding machine is developed,and a typical case of plant mutation breeding by the ARTP-P mutation machine is presented using Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt.seeds.Physical and agricultural experiments show that the newly-developed ARTP-P mutation breeding machine with a large irradiation area can generate uniform CAP jets with high concentrations of chemically reactive species and mild gas temperatures,and have signiflcant mutagenesis effects on the Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt.seeds.The ARTP-P mutation breeding machine may provide a platform for systematic studies on mutation mechanisms and results for various plant seeds under different operating conditions in future research.

Investigation of non-thermal atmospheric plasma for the degradation of avermectin solution

Increasing concern with regard to food safety in the presence of pesticide residues(PRs) on the surface of agricultural products has resulted in the rapid development of practical degrading technologies for corresponding PRs. In this paper, an unconventional method of degrading pesticides, non-thermal atmospheric plasma(NTAP), was proposed to degrade the avermectin(AVM) in aqueous solution. Optical emission spectroscopy shows that NTAP, consisting of filamentary streamers, contains a variety of reactive oxygen species(ROS) that may interact with AVM. The high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)-MS/MS results indicate that the efficiency of AVM degradation seriously depends on multiple operation parameters of the NTAP,including the applied voltage, treatment time and gas flow rate. The maximum degradation rate of AVM was observed to be 97.47% after 240 s exposure under NTAP with an applied voltage of 18 kV and gas flow rate of 1 l min-1. Molecular dynamics simulation based on a reactive force field for the interaction between O(ground state atomic oxygen) and AVM was performed to analyze the underpinning mechanisms. The simulation result shows the possible pathways of the NTAPgenerated O degrading AVM by destroying the glycosyl group or fracturing the ester group.

Systemic study on the safety of immuno-deficient nude mice treated by atmospheric plasma-activated water

Cold atmospheric-pressure plasma is a new technology, widely used in many fields of biomedicine,especially in cancer treatment. Cold plasma can selectively kill a variety of tumor cells, and its biological safety in clinical trials is also very important. In many cases, the patient’s immune level is relatively low, so we first studied the safety assessment of plasma treatment in an immunocompromised animal model. In this study, we examined the safety of immuno-deficient nude mice by oral lavage treatment of plasma-activated water, and studied the growth status, main organs and blood biochemical indexes. Acute toxicity test results showed that the maximum dose of plasma treatment for 15 min had no lethal effect and other acute toxicity. There were no significant changes in body weight and survival status of mice after 2 min and 4 min of plasma-activated water(PAW)treatment for 2 weeks. After treatment, the major organs, including heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney, were not significantly changed in organ coefficient and tissue structure. Blood biochemical markers showed that blood neutrophils and mononuclear cells were slightly increased, and the others remained unchanged. Liver function, renal function, electrolytes, glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism were not affected by different doses of PAW treatment. The above results indicate that PAW treatment can be used to treat immuno-deficient nude mice without significant safety problems.

Effect of An Atmospheric Plasma Jet on the Differentiation of Melanoblast Progenitor

Objective Melanoblasts are the cell source of regeneration for pigment restoration.The ability to differentiate into mature melanocytes is the essential feature of melanoblasts in depigmentation diseases.Cold atmospheric plasma is an ionized gas with near-room temperature and highly reactive species that has been shown to induce stem cell differentiation.The aim of the study was to explore the effect of cold atmospheric plasma on the differentiation of melanoblast progenitor cells.Methods In this study,melanoblasts were exposed to the plasma jet and the cell morphology was observed.The cell cycle and cell proliferation were detected.Furthermore,the cell immunofluorescence and the detection of melanin particle and nitric oxide were carried out to investigate the differentiation of melanoblast progenitor cells.Results Cells that were treated with the plasma had longer and more synaptic structures,and the G1 phase of cell cycle was prolonged in the treated group.More melanin synthesis-related proteins and melanin particles were produced after plasma treatment.Nitric oxide was one of the active components generated by the plasma jet,and the nitric oxide content in the cell culture medium of the treated group increased.Conclusion These results indicate that an increase in nitric oxide production caused by a plasma jet can promote cell differentiation.The application of plasma provides an innovative strategy for the treatment of depigmentation diseases.

Propagation of Electromagnetic TM (S-Polarization) Mode in Two-Dimensional Atmospheric Plasma

The finite-difference-time-domain （FDTD） method is applied to simulate the twodimensional propagation of electromagnetic TM （S-polarization） mode in atmospheric plasma and in metal layer for strong electron-neutral collisions. Dependence of the wave attenuation on both plasma parameters and incident wave angle are obtained. It is indicated that for a given electron density profile the attenuation depends strongly on the incident angle, the wave frequency, the width of plasma layer, and the collision frequency between electrons and neutrals.

Influence of Ionization Degrees on the Evolutions of Charged Particles in Atmospheric Plasma at Low Altitude

A zero-dimensional model which includes 56 species of reactants and 427 reactions is used to study the behavior of charged particles in atmospheric plasmas with different ionization degrees at low altitude （near 0 km）. The constant coefficient nonlinear equations are solved by using the Quasi-steady-state approximation method. The electron lifetimes are obtained for afterglow plasma with different initial values, and the temporal evolutions of the main charged species are presented, which are dominant in reaction processes. The results show that the electron number density decays quickly. The lifetimes of electrons are shortened by about two orders with increasing ionization degree. Electrons then attach to neutral particles and produce negative ions. When the initial electron densities are in the range of 10l~ ~ 1014 cm-3, the negative ions have sufficiently high densities and long lifetimes for air purification, disinfection and sterilization. Electrons, O（2,-）, O（4,-） CO（4,-） and CO（3,-） are the dominant negative species when the initial electron density neo ≤ 1013 cm^（-3）, and only electrons and CO3 are left when neo 〉 1015 cm^（-3）. N（＋,2）, N＋ and O（＋,2） are dominant in the positive charges for any ionization degree. Other positive species, such as 0（＋,4）, N（＋,3）, NO（＋,2）, NO（＋,2）, Ar（＋,2） and H3O＋. H2O, are dominant only for a certain ionization degree and in a certain period.

Influence of Ionization Degrees on Conversion of CO and CO_2 in Atmospheric Plasma near the Ground

A zero-dimensional model is used to study the processes of physical and chemical reactions in atmospheric plasma with different ionization degrees near the ground （0 km）. The temporal evolutions of CO, C02 and other main reactants （namely OH and O2）, which affect the conversion of CO and C02, are obtained for afterglow plasma with different initial values. The results show that the consumption rate of CO is largest when the initiM electron number density neo=1012 cm-3, i.e. the ionization degree is 0.000004%. The number density of CO2 is relatively small when neo=1016 cm-3, i.e. the ionization degree is 0.04%, whereas they are very close under the condition of other ionization degrees. Considering the total number densities of CO and C02 and the consumption rate of CO comprehensively, the best condition is neo=1013 cm-3, i.e. the ionization degree is 0.00004% for reducing the densities of CO and CO2 in the atmospheric plasma. The temporal evolutions of N＋, Ar＋, CO＋ and CO＋ are also shown, and the influences on the temporal evolutions of CO and C02 are analyzed with increasing ionization degree.

Fabrication and performance of atmospheric plasma sprayed solid oxide fuel cells with liquid antimony anodes

A solid oxide fuel cell(SOFC)with a liquid antimony anode(LAA)is a potential energy conversion technology for the use of impurity-containing fuels.Atmospheric plasma spraying(APS)technology has become a promising LAASOFC preparation method because of its economy and convenience.In this paper,button SOFCs with different cathode materials and ratios of pore former were prepared by the APS method and were operated at 750C.The effect of the cathode structure on the electrochemical performance of the LAA-SOFCs was analyzed,and an optimized spraying method for LAA-SOFCs was developed.A tubular LAA-SOFC was prepared using the APS method based on the optimized spraying method,and a peak power of 2.5 W was reached.The tubular cell was also measured at a constant current of 2 A for 20 h and was fed with a sulfur-containing fuel to demonstrate its impurity resistance and electrode stability.

Non-Thermal Atmospheric Plasma:Can it Be Taken as a Common Solution for the Surface Treatment of Dental Materials?

This study aimed to evaluate the surface roughness and wetting properties of various dental prosthetic materials after different durations of non-thermal atmospheric plasma（NTAP）treatment.One hundred and sixty discs of titanium（Ti）（n：40）,cobalt chromium（Co-Cr）（n：40）,yttrium stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals（Y-TZP）（n：40）and polymethylmethacrylate（PMMA）（n：40）materials were machined and smoothed with silicon carbide papers.The surface roughness was evaluated in a control group and in groups with different plasma exposure times [1-3-5 s].The average surface roughness（Ra）and contact angle（CA）measurements were recorded via an atomic force microscope（AFM）and tensiometer,respectively.Surface changes were examined with a scanning electron microscope（SEM）.Data were analyzed with two-way analysis of variance（ANOVA）and the Tukey HSD test α=0.05）.According to the results,the NTAP surface treatment significantly affected the roughness and wettability properties（P 〈 0.05）.SEM images reveal that more grooves were present in the NTAP groups.With an increase in the NTAP application time,an apparent increment was observed for Ra,except in the PMMA group,and a remarkable reduction in CA was observed in all groups.It is concluded that the NTAP technology could enhance the roughening and wetting performance of various dental materials.

An Experimental Investigation into the Amalgamated Al2O3-40% TiO2 Atmospheric Plasma Spray Coating Process on EN24 Substrate and Parameter Optimization Using TLBO

Surface coating is a critical procedure in the case of maintenance engineering. Ceramic coating of the wear areas is of the best practice which substantially enhances the Mean Time between Failure (MTBF). EN24 is a commercial grade alloy which is used for various industrial applications like sleeves, nuts, bolts, shafts, etc. EN24 is having comparatively low corrosion resistance, and ceramic coating of the wear and corroding areas of such parts is a best followed practice which highly improves the frequent failures. The coating quality mainly depends on the coating thickness, surface roughness and coating hardness which finally decides the operability. This paper describes an experimental investigation to effectively optimize the Atmospheric Plasma Spray process input parameters of Al2O3-40% TiO2 coatings to get the best quality of coating on EN24 alloy steel substrate. The experiments are conducted with an Orthogonal Array (OA) design of experiments (DoE). In the current experiment, critical input parameters are considered and some of the vital output parameters are monitored accordingly and separate mathematical models are generated using regression analysis. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method is used to generate weights for the individual objective functions and based on that, a combined objective function is made. An advanced optimization method, Teaching-Learning-Based Optimization algorithm (TLBO), is practically utilized to the combined objective function to optimize the values of input parameters to get the best output parameters. Confirmation tests are also conducted and their output results are compared with predicted values obtained through mathematical models. The dominating effects of Al2O3-40% TiO2 spray parameters on output parameters: surface roughness, coating thickness and coating hardness are discussed in detail. It is concluded that the input parameters variation directly affects the characteristics of output parameters and any number of input as well as output parameters can be easily optimized using the current approach.

Parameter Optimization of Amalgamated Al2O3-40% TiO2 Atmospheric Plasma Spray Coating on SS304 Substrate Using TLBO Algorithm

SS304 is a commercial grade stainless steel which is used for various engineering applications like shafts, guides, jigs, fixtures, etc. Ceramic coating of the wear areas of such parts is a regular practice which significantly enhances the Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF). The final coating quality depends mainly on the coating thickness, surface roughness and hardness which ultimately decides the life. This paper presents an experimental study to effectively optimize the Atmospheric Plasma Spray (APS) process input parameters of Al2O3-40% TiO2 ceramic coatings to get the best quality of coating on commercial SS304 substrate. The experiments are conducted with a three-level L18 Orthogonal Array (OA) Design of Experiments (DoE). Critical input parameters considered are: spray nozzle distance, substrate rotating speed, current of the arc, carrier gas flow and coating powder flow rate. The surface roughness, coating thickness and hardness are considered as the output parameters. Mathematical models are generated using regression analysis for individual output parameters. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method is applied to generate weights for the individual objective functions and a combined objective function is generated. An advanced optimization method, Teaching-Learning-Based Optimization algorithm (TLBO), is applied to the combined objective function to optimize the values of input parameters to get the best output parameters and confirmation tests are conducted based on that. The significant effects of spray parameters on surface roughness, coating thickness and coating hardness are studied in detail.

Remodel the perifollicular microenvironment via Minoxidil-loaded microneedle patch and cold atmospheric plasma for treating androgenetic alopecia

Androgenetic alopecia(AGA)is a chronic and progressive form of hair loss characterized by vascular degeneration in the perifollicular microenvironment,leading to cell apoptosis and eventual loss of hair follicles(HFs).Traditional therapeutic formulations,such as Minoxidil(MXD)tincture,have limitations in reshaping the perifollicular microenvironment and exhibit limited effectiveness.Here,we report a multi-synergistic therapeutic platform for high-performance hair regeneration therapy.The platform combines microneedle(MN)patches loaded with MXD-encapsulated nanostructured lipid carriers(MXD-NLC-MNs)and cold atmospheric plasma(CAP).The MNs’mechanical strength enables efficient transdermal delivery of MXD to the targeted dermal papilla cells,promoting cell proliferation.Furthermore,in collaboration with MXD,the mechanical stimulation exerted by MN application synergistically upregulates the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor,leading to neoangiogenesis.Meanwhile,the transient microchannels in the skin created by MNs facilitate the transdermal delivery of CAPgenerated nitric oxide(NO)to the sites of HF lesions,whereby the synergistic interaction between MXD and NO boosts perifollicular vasodilation.Consequently,the perifollicular microenvironment can be effectively reshaped to accelerate hair regeneration in AGA murine models.This multi-synergistic combination therapy strategy would hold great promise for effectively treating AGA and promoting hair regrowth.

Fast processing nylon mesh by surface diffuse atmospheric plasma for large-area oil/water separation

In recent years,numerous studies have been reported for oil/water separation,such as superoleophilic materials for oil absorption and underwater superoleophobic membranes for continuous separation.However,for the recovery of oil slick pollution on near-shore ocean surface caused by various reasons,large area and fast availability of used materials are needed to be considered.Herein,we report an efficient and environmentally friendly method to fast process nylon mesh by surface diffuse atmospheric plasma(SDAP)for large-area oil/water separation.Nylon mesh is funcionalized by atmospheric plasma to generate micro/nano composite structures on the surface,resulting in superhydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity within only seconds.The pre-wetted modified nylon mesh can achieve high efficiency(>99.9%)and circulating water flux(~30,000 L·m^(-2)·h^(-1)),with high intrusion pressure(~3 kPa)and universality in oil/water separation.Regular plasma unconditionally generated in the atmosphere with the merit of efficiently functionalizing surface has the potential of large-area materials treatment.This study might take one step further for large-area industrial oily wastewater recovery and even oil slicks collection in near-shore water bodies.

Synergetic burns treatment by self-adaption release system combined with cold atmospheric plasma

In the tissue remodeling stage of burns,excessive medical therapy can cause scarring by promoting excessive fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition.Cold atmospheric plasma(CAP)has emerged in biomedicine for its excellent sterilization and wound-healing function,which is expected to reduce the use of drugs in burns treatment.Here,a novel therapy that could rapidly heal burns was developed using a combined self-adaption release system with CAP.The self-adaption release system(Cur-ZIF8@HA)used curcumin(Cur)as the therapeutic drug and ZIF-8 modified with hyaluronic acid(HA)as the carrier.In vitro study results showed that combined treatment methods can inactivate bacteria and enhance fibroblast cells'migration and proliferation.In vivo animal wound healing studies have demonstrated that the synergistic treatment of Cur-ZIF8@HA and CAP can help fibroblast proliferation and stimulate angiogenesis,indicating effective wound healing.More importantly,CAP can reduce collagen synthesis in granulation tissue recombination and further inhibit scar formation by combining with CurZIF8@HA.In the biomedical field,these findings underscore to a large extent that our research will open up new possibilities for the interaction of nanotechnology with new technologies of physical principles.

Formation of carbon and oxygen rich surface layer on high purity magnesium by atmospheric carbon dioxide plasma

Carbon and oxygen-rich corrosion barrier layer formed on Mg by a simple and scalable CO_(2) atmospheric plasma(CO_(2)-AP)process.The reactive CO_(2)-AP interacts with the Mg surface and forms a unique layered structure with the top MgCO_(3)/MgO-intermixed particulates pillars and the bottom dense layer.The surface features were simultaneously formed on the nano-/micro-structured MgO layer by carbonate molecules,plasma-active CO_(2) molecules,and/or other volatile organic compounds on the nano-/micro-structured MgO particle layer.The resulting surfaces after CO_(2)-AP were either hydrophobic or hydrophilic and exhibited lower anodic current or high resistance for Mg corrosion.For the hydrophobic surfaces of CO_(2)-AP treated Mg,molecular dynamic simulations were performed to understand the origin of hydrophobicity and identified that the amorphous carbon layers formed on the Mg surface are the source.The environmentally benign abundant-gas-based process enables the cost reduction associated with waste treatment,generation of by-product,and supply of raw material.

Reducing the carbon emissions from Qianxi tomato fruits preservation by cold atmospheric plasma

China has pledged to reach its dual-carbon goals(i.e.,carbon peak and carbon neutrality)at the end of 2060.To reduce carbon emission in food preservation industry,the preservation effects of cold atmospheric plasma intermittent treatment(1 min/6 h each day,PL4)combined with 15℃ and 4℃ only on Qianxi tomato fruits during 7 d storage were investigated.Results indicated that the firmness,L*,sensory taste,glutathione(GSH)content,mineral(Fe,P,K)content,polyphenol oxidase activity of PL4 tomatoes were significantly increased than that in Control during earlier period storage,with worse weight loss,titratable acid,a*,b*,lycopene content,·OH radical scavenging capacity and same moisture content,total soluble solids,polysaccharide content,total phenolics content,total flavonoid content,ascorbic acid content,1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity,pectin methylesterase activity.Moreover,the power and R134a consumption of PL4 were highly decreased by around 56.4 kW·h and 0.3 g respectively during whole storage as compared to Control,and reduced more than 99.8%carbon emission based on equipment using stage.All in all,this study illustrated that PL4 treatment can be applied as an ecofriendly,low carbon and sustainable preservation strategy for short-term storage of fruits under 4℃ or higher temperature.

Investigation of paint removal by atmospheric pressure plasma jet

Acrylic polyurethane paint on the surface of 2A12 Al alloy was cleaned utilizing an atmospheric pressure plasma jet in this work.The dynamic evolution of the paint removal process during plasma treatment with time was explored through analysis of morphology and chemical states.The results showed that although the thickness of paint could be reduced effectively with an increase in cleaning time,the removal rate of paint gradually decreased with time.During the initial cleaning process range,its original smooth morphology of paint turned rugged quickly and was almost unchanged with further plasma treatment.Element and chemical state analysis showed that the content of C in the paint layer decreased obviously after plasma treatment.In contrast,the O content increased remarkably.The cleaning mechanism could be mainly attributed to the reaction between active O-containing species in air plasma and organic components in the paint.After removal of superficial organic matter,residue inorganic metal oxide substances aggregated on the base.The exposed metal oxides on the one hand elevated the superficial O content,but on the other hand hindered further plasma penetration,resulting in a gradual decrease in cleaning rate with cleaning time.Therefore,physical wiping was proposed to be incorporated with the plasma method and effective removal of paint was realized.