Certottica research: plasma

Plasma technology can be applied in all areas that demand high levels of quality, productivity, environmental compatibility and precision Sustainable growth and the mastery of structural changes are closely linked to scientific and technical progress, to our innovative skills and technological know-how. Research in this field paves the way to promising solutions that are ecologically efficient and will contribute to future needs in terms of resources and eco-compatible processes and products.   Plasma technology can be applied to all areas that demand high levels of quality, productivity, environmental compatibility and precision. Because of the costly processes for producing plasma, usually through electrical discharge in evacuated chambers, and the complexity of the phenomena themselves, for a long time plasma physics was relegated to sporadic research work.   Progress in understanding the physical processes and progress made in other branches of science have led to an interdisciplinary method with unrivaled potential. One of the main advantages is the sustainable use of raw materials and energy together with flexibility and safety that are the other points in favor of plasma processes. The rapid growth of this technology is reflected in applications that are already making our lives easier and healthier: albeit unwittingly, we constantly use products treated with plasma. Recently, plasma technology has awakened from a long period of inertia thanks to the significant contribution of new knowledge and technical progress, especially in electronics.   A large number of projects are at the development stage and many more have already generated commercially- available products and manufacturing methods. However, we are only at the start of the story. The numerous degrees of particle freedom in a plasma, the huge variety of process gases and precursors, the enormous number of adjustable process parameters and countless possible reactor geometries are the reason why plasma technology has such a vast range of applications on the one hand, but, on the other, requires very long development times. Product and process innovation are not achieved without considerable research and development. The processes must be classified and plasma behavior must be understood until it can be predicted: this is groundbreaking chemistry. Plasma models and simulations require reliable plasma diagnostics data.   These and others are the subjects of ongoing research and development. Certottica has set up a research center specializing in cold plasma applications to surface treatments. Already in operation are two plants with kHz generators - a pilot plant and a laboratory plant - and also available is a considerable database of experiments that have been carried out in the eyeglasses field since 2004. Moreover, Certottica is part of a framework of companies and research centers that places it in a position of being a technological avant-garde in this field: a small specialized center available for companies that wish to experiment with specific applications.