Plasma indicators

A liquid metal compound is used as the indicator, which decomposes in the plasma, leaving a shiny metallic coating on the treated surface.
The polyamide surface on the right shows the freshly applied drops of plasma indicator metal compound.
 On the left, the pure gold-coloured metal after plasma treatment can be seen.
Here the metal compound plasma indicator is applied to a polyamide surface: The image on the right shows the freshly applied drops of the solution and on the left the pure, gold-coloured metal after plasma treatment.
Plasma indicator tags are specially coated films, which are applied on the component to be treated during the plasma process.

What are plasma indicators?

Plasma indicators are simple and fast test methods for the detection of successful plasma processes.

If component surfaces after plasma treatment do not demonstrate the desired properties, expensive complaints can quickly result. However, there are simple methods with which a successful plasma process can be detected, without great expenditure of time.

Why are they applied?

For process control of the following plasma processes: Cleaning - activating - etching

What types of indicators are there?

Plasma indicator (liquid)

The plasma indicator-metal compound from Diener electronic offers users of plasma systems the possibility to see at a glance whether the applied plasma treatment has successfully occurred. The indicator consists of a liquid metal compound, which decomposes in the plasma. If a drop of this originally colorless liquid is applied on the component itself or a reference sample, it will transforms during the plasma treatment into a shiny metallic coating, which provides a clear contrast for most surfaces.

For more information about plasma indicator (liquid), see here.

Plasma indicator tags

The coated film on the label is characterized by a dark (brown) indicator point, which disappearsin the successful plasma process. If no indicator point can be seen, the cleaning - activation - etching has beensuccessfully carried out.