First plasma DBD download: plasma-JET

Full text: Dielectric barrier discharges (DBD) are plasma discharges that occur between two electrodes separated by a dielectric. The source that is used to generate the discharge is specially designed for this purpose and the dielectric materials that are used range from glass, ceramic or even some polymers. When a high voltage is applied between the electrodes some arcs are randomly generated among them due to the accumulation of charges on the surface of the dielectric material this generates thousands of discharges in microseconds which provides the degree of ionization required to sustain a discharge of plasma. DBD downloads are a technology used in various branches of modern industry. This is largely due to the fact that plasma is capable of conferring unique properties on the surface of different materials and being considered ecologically friendly due to its low waste generation and low energy consumption. Among the applications of this type of downloads we can find the modification or cleaning of the material surfaces, sterilization, water treatment, textile treatment, etc. In the field of Biomedical applications, Plasma is introduced for the first time to the scientific community in the decade of the 90s, since then the work on the interaction of plasma with cells for possible applications in treatment of living tissues and sterilization has taken relevance creating a new field at the intersection of science and technology with biology and medicine. Under this scenario and with the objective of promoting the development of plasma technologies in our country, the Laboratorio de Plasmas para Energia de Fusion y Aplicaciones of TEC seeks to generate the necessary inputs to start researching applications for this type of downloads in the country, through 3 different projects: Implementation of a dielectric barrier discharge plasma (DBD) reactor for water treatment. Modification of properties of local species of wood, through the application of low temperature plasma. Development of a plasma-JET reactor for atmospheric pressure discharges with potential Biomedical applications and in the treatment of surfaces. Last week, the first DBD plasma discharge was carried out, implementing a Plasma-Jet type reactor. This type of reactor has the following configuration, as a dielectric was used a Pyrex glass cylinder and a copper electrode.The modification of the properties of a surface is one of the applications of the DBD plasmas, one of the most striking is the change in the hydrophobicity of a material as a function of the time of exposure to the plasma. In a rapid test exposing an area of a glass plate for 3 minutes it was possible to observe the changes in the properties of the surface of the material. Can you touch a plasma? Commonly we hear about the fact that the sun and the rays are composed of plasma and it is difficult to imagine how it is possible to touch it without suffering any burn or to be completely disintegrated. In a plasma it is possible to distinguish between the temperature of electrons and that of heavy particles or massive species under this scenario we can classify a plasma as thermal or non-thermal. Non-thermal plasmas or also called 'cold plasmas' are low pressure and low ionized plasmas where the electrons have a much higher temperature than the heavy particles which produces a situation of thermal imbalance