Federal Ministryof Educationand Research

B M B F P U B L I C

Plasma Technology

Process Diversity+Sustainability

2Published by

German Federal Ministryof Education and Research(Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung –BMBF)Department of Public Relations53170 BonnGermany

Orders

by mail to the publisherPostbox 30 02 3553182 Bonn, Germanyor by calling+49-1805-BMBF02 or +49-1805-262302Fax +49-1805-BMBF03 or +49-1805-262303E-mail: books@bmbf.bund.deInternet: http://www.bmbf.deNovember 2001

Expert advice:

Dr. Karin ReichelDr. Ralf FellenbergVDI-Technology CenterDuesseldorf, Germany

Text:

Rolf KickuthDr. Angela Lahee (Translation)Gaiberg nr. HeidelbergGermany

Graphics, layout, typesetting:

Agentur RubikonGaiberg, Germanyhttp://www.rubikon.de

Printed by:

Printec OffsetKassel, Germany

Sources of photographs and illustrations:

See inside back cover

B M B F P U B L I C

Plasma technology: inno-vations for the future

Sustainable growth and themastering of structural changeare closely linked to scientic andtechnical progress, to innovativecapability to act, and to techno-logical know-how.Plasma technology, in conjunc-tion with other technologies,provides a key to meeting thesechallenges to the benet of man-kind. Research in this eld opensdoors to promising, ecologicallyefcient and integrative solu-tions and will contribute to satis-fying future needs in terms ofresources and environmentallyfriendly processes and products.Plasma technology is nding ap-plication in all those areas thatplace high demands on quality,productivity, environmental com-patibility, precision and exibili-ty. This concerns, in particular,the provision sectors energy, en-vironment, health and mobility,but also others.It is especially important inthe growth areas of electronics,the car-, machine- and tool-mak-ing industries, energy techno-logy, the optics industry, andtextile, environmental, and medi-cal technology.Because of its broad applicationpotential, plasma technology isone of the key technologies withwhich innovative long-term solu-tions can be developed in almostall areas.Today one can already see howplasma technology is improvingthe quality and performance ofmany products and processes. Forexample, plasma coating is usedto produce high-quality tools andconstruction materials and forthe surface-nishing of plasticsand textiles; plasma cleaning andetching help to produce newgenerations of chips for high-performance computers, to makeenergy-saving and environment-ally friendly plasma lamps, tosynthesise new materials withspecially designed utility value,and to dispose of or recycle toxicsubstances and waste materials.The special future promise ofplasma technology and its appli-cations lies in its potential forinnovation, value creation, sus-tainability and growth, its wideranging opportunities for tech-nological exploitation, and itspositive environmentalinuences. At present, thanksto signicant progress in ourscientic understanding of plas-ma physics, plasma technology isdeveloping into a cross-sectiontechnology whose full potentialis far from being realised andwhose importance is constantlygrowing.In contrast, the public awarenessof plasma technology remains ata very low level.

The present brochure is thus in-tended to give readers an overallgrasp of what plasma technologyis and can achieve. It aims togive an overview of the possibi-lities in various areas of appli-cation and of the potential fornew products, energy saving,environmental protection, and job creation. Furthermore, it de-scribes the role and signicanceof plasma technology and existingsuccessful applications of plasmas,while also indicating promisingareas for future activities.

Foreword

The brochure addresses all thosewhose interest in plasma tech-nology can be awakened ordeepened; also those who seetheir personal future in the eldof plasma research and tech-nology, e.g. in relation to theircareer choice, their engagementin a new eld of business or thefounding of a new enterprise, orthe direct exploitation of plasmatechnology.

The development of plasma tech-nology will be described usinga selection of current examples.Some new research topics will alsobe presented. Moreover, the rea-der will learn how and where plas-ma technology affects our dailylives in the form of products andprocesses, and where to expectnew developments in the future.

The brochure will give examplesof successful projects supportedby the Bundesministerium für Bil-dung und Forschung – BMBF(German Federal Ministry ofEducation and Research) but alsodocuments the results of otherresearch and sponsorship initia-tives that have led, or are lea-ding, to important innovationsand progress in problem solving.The choice of topics can, ofcourse, be neither complete norconclusive. Plasma technology isa technology of the future, atechnology that can make an im-portant contribution to sustain-able growth, innovation, andnew products. The German Federal Ministry ofEducation and Research will con-tinue to encourage progress inthis eld through the targetedsupport of cooperative researchinvolving both academia andindustry.