Patent ID: 8430995
Filing Date: 2013-04-30
Classification: A61L,H01J,H05H

Abstract:
1. A method of treating solid exterior surfaces of a plurality of workpieces with a substantially uniform non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge plasma comprising: selecting a plurality separate dielectric chambers, each said dielectric chamber having a total volume, and a wall, said wall comprising dielectric material, each said dielectric chamber being adapted to confining therein an atmosphere with a near ambient atmospheric pressure and a non-air composition, each said dielectric chamber comprising a handling and storage container for at least a first of said workpieces; placing said first workpiece in a first of said dielectric chambers, placing a second of said workpieces in a second dielectric chambers, there being a void volume within each of said first and second dielectric chambers between said first and second workpieces and the respective walls of said first and second chambers, the respective said void volumes being less than approximately 30 percent, or approximately 20 percent, or approximately 10 percent of the respective said total volumes; providing an atmosphere control system, and using said atmosphere control system to flush said first and second dielectric chambers and adjust said non-air compositions to predetermined values, and sealing said first and second dielectric chambers said predetermined values being adapted to allowing the formation of said substantially uniform non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge plasma in a plasma zone in each of said first and second dielectric chambers; supplying at least one electrode and positioning said one electrode outside of said sealed first dielectric chamber, said dielectric material being generally between said one electrode and said solid exterior surface, and said plasma zone generally being in a gap between said dielectric material and said solid exterior surface, said electrode being operatively connected to a source of plasma generating electrical power; applying said plasma generating electrical power to said electrode to generate said substantially uniform non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge plasma in said plasma zone; treating said solid exterior surface with said substantially uniform non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge plasma; handling and storing said first workpiece with a resulting treated solid exterior surface in said sealed first dielectric chamber; positioning said one electrode outside of said sealed second dielectric chamber, said dielectric material being generally between said one electrode and said solid exterior surface, and said plasma zone generally being in a gap between said dielectric material said solid exterior, surface, said electrode being operatively connected to a source of plasma generating electrical power; applying said plasma generating electrical power to said electrode to generate said substantially uniform non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge plasma in said plasma zone; treating said solid exterior surface with said substantially uniform non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge plasma; and handling and storing said second workpiece with a resulting treated solid exterior surface in said sealed second dielectric chamber.