This volume offers a collection of the best papers presented at the 16th International Symposium on Plasma Chemistry, held in Taormina, Italy, June 2003. The focus is on new innovations and cutting-edge technologies. Contributions cover the fields of plasma deposition; plasma treatment of polymers and other organic compounds; plasma processes under partial vacuum and at atmospheric pressure; biomedical, textile, automotive, and optical applications; surface treatment of bulk materials, clusters, particles and powders; and more.

From the Preface: “...Plasma Processes and Polymers...is a comprehensive collection of 37 peer-reviewed articles which were presented as contributions at ISPC-16, in several different sessions dealing with low-temperature plasma processes. All of these articles have been carefully examined by the editors and by numerous referees, and the English has been revised to the highest scientific standards...We are confident that Plasma Processes and Polymers, the book and the journal, will soon become the reference for materials scientists, chemists, physicists, engineers, biologists and physicians, and others who are either experts in the field or just starting to work in it...”

Target Audience: Academic and industrial researchers and technologists throughout the plasma community; also those concerned with plasma applications in various industrial applications.

Partial Table of Contents:

Plasma Deposition of Thin Films:

Polymer Surface Modification with Monofunctional Groups of Different Type and Density

RF-Plasma Deposition of SiO_x and a-C:H as Barrier Coatings on Polymers

Upscaling of Plasma Processes for Carboxyl Functionalization

Deposition of Fluorocarbon Films on Al and SiO₂ Surfaces in High-Density Fluorocarbon Plasmas: Selectivity and Surface Wettability

Hot-Wire Plasma Deposition of Doped DLC Films on Fluorocarbon Polymers for Biomedical Applications

Rate Constant of HMDSO + O Reaction in Plasma Afterglow

Plasma-Enhanced Thin-Film Deposition on Polycarbonates

Plasma-Grafting of Functional Groups:

Treatment of Flexible Polyethylene with Low-Pressure Plasma to Improve Its Painting Properties

Surface Modification of PVDF by Microwave Plasma Treatment for Electroless Metallization

Different Performance of Ar, O₂ and CO₂ RF Plasmas in the Adhesion of Thermoplastic Rubber to Polyurethane Adhesive

Ion-Induced Chemical and Structural Modification of Polymer Surfaces

Plasma-Enhanced Fluorination of Nitrile Butadiene Elastomer: an XPS Study

Plasma-Surface Modification of Styrene-Butadiene Elastomers for Improved Adhesion

PET Surface After Plasma or Laser Treatment: Study of the Chemical Modifications and Adhesive Properties

Plasma Pretreatments and Treatments on Polytetrafluoroethylene for Reducing the Hydrophobic Recovery

Oxygen-Plasma Modification of Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS) Containing Copolymers for Micro- and Nanofabrication

Plasma and Life Science:

RF-Plasma Treatment on the Inside of Small Functional Devices for Biomedical Application

Plasma Sterilisation: Mechanisms Overview and Influence of Discharge Parameters

Improvement of Low-Pressure Microwave Plasma-Assisted Amino Functionalization of Polymers

PE-CVD Modification of Medical-Grade PVC to Inhibit Bacterial Adhesion: PEO-Like and Nanocomposite Ag/PEO-Like Coatings

Plasma-Aided Micropatterning of Polystyrene Substrates for Driving Cell Adhesion and Spreading

Chemical Synthesis, Powders and Non-Equilibrium Effects:

Acetylene and Ethylene Carbon Blacks Production in Plasma Process

Dust Particles in the dc Glow-Discharge Plasma: Self-Organization and Peculiarities of Behavior

Controlled Growth of Carbon Nanotubes Using Pulsed Glow-Barrier Discharge

Optimization of a DC-RF Hybrid Plasma Flow System Using Statistical Analysis