Sabina MazaCorpus Christi ISDDr. David Staack

Assistant Professor Department of Mechanical Engineering

THE INCORPORATION OF COLOR INTO PLASMA ENHANCED

CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION FILMS

Tsung-Chan “Cliff” TsaiDr. David Staack

4th state of matter: ionized gas

Most abundant in the cosmos Made of electrons and ions Electrically charged particles that respond to electric

and magnetic fields

What is plasma?

High temp electrons (20000 °F)Cold neutral gas –safe to touch

Examples:

LOW-TEMP PLASMA

Natural Aurorae borealis

Artificial Fluorescent lamp

Plasma in action

Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD)

MMA

Floating substrate

HV

Power Supply

Helium

+- - -

-- -

- - -- -- -

- ++

+ + ++ +

+++- - -

--

Electrode

Dielectric tube Plasma jet

* **

* *

**

**

Film

Characteristics• Non-thermal plasma• Adhesive to varies surfaces• Sterilizer

MMA Polymerization

Applications Suitable for live tissues

Polymeric bandage on woundsSterilizes

Research Objective

To add a dye under PECVD conditions in order to produce a

colored film.

Method

CI

+ CI

Setup

ExperimentsSolubility

of dye in MMA

In solutionSublimed

Stability of dye after plasma

ejection

Optimal conditions of power supply

Properties on PMMA

Select new dyes

1

4

3

26

5

Data Generated Conditions to incorporate color indicator onto the

filmColor indicator solvent and concentrationSublimation temperature and gas flowPower supply

○ Voltage○ Frequency of electricity○ Line spectra○ Power

Color changes on film (spectral analysis)

Sensitive to changes in pH or temperature

Could signal chemical and/or metabolic changesmicrobial activity

WHY A COLOR FILM?

Summary Use of low temperature plasma to

deposit a film Film is functional band-aid: compatible

with life tissues, sterilizers and protects from re-infection

Film could indicate chemical/metabolic changes or microbial activity

Relatedness to Class ConceptsMatter

Physical and Chemical ChangesAtom and Atomic Theory

IonsBonding

Chemical ReactionsSolutions

pH

Acknowledgements Enrichment Experience in Engineering

(E3) Dr. David Staack Tsung-Chan “Cliff” Tsai Texas A&M University Mechanical Engineering Department National Science Foundation (NSF)

Thank you!