Multi-Surf · Towards Novel Multi-Functional Surfaces – Development of Innovative Plasma Surface Alloying Technologies

Towards Novel Multi-Functional Surfaces – Development of Innovative Plasma Surface Alloying Technologies

It has long been a dream for designers to have multi-functional surfaces for many demanding applications such as long-life and high-performance body implants and medical devices for healthcare, fuel cell plates and solar panels for energy, nano/micro electromechanical systems for nanotechnology, and light-weight engines and transmissions for low-carbon transport. Plasma thermochemical treatment is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly surface engineering technology and has been proved to be one of the most effective means to improve the surface hardness, wear and corrosion resistance and fatigue life of steel components by alloying steel surfaces with such intestinal elements as carbon for carburising and nitrogen for nitriding. However, currently no plasma technology can generate multi-functional surfaces by simultaneous alloying with both interstitial and substitutional elements (i.e. co-alloying). The aim of this Fellowship was to reinforce the excellence and competitiveness of European surface engineering and manufacturing industries by developing novel plasma surface technology through knowledge sharing and collaborative research. In this project, a novel ‘triple-glow plasma’ technology facility has been developed by synergising the ‘double glow plasma (DGP)’ technology developed at the Researcher’s institute in China and the ‘active-screen plasma (ASP)’ technology developed by the Host in the UK; a portfolio of innovative multi-functional stainless steel surfaces were created by plasma surface co-alloying with both substitutional elements (such as Ag, Pt, Nb) and interstitial elements (such as C, N); and the plasma co-alloyed surfaces were fully characterised and the mechanisms involved in the co-alloying was investigated to advance scientific understanding. The technological impact of the project has been demonstrated by the generation long-lasting anti-bacterial stainless steel surfaces for medical and food processing devices based on co-alloying of nitrogen and silver and/or copper; highly corrosion resistant and low interfacial contact resistance surfaces for high-performance and long-life fuel cell bipolar plates high efficiency fuel cells based on hybrid co-alloying and deposition of N, Ag, Nb and Pt. A patent application for the invented triple-glow plasma technology has been filed and published. The scientific impact of the research is evidenced by 5 peer reviewed papers published. The incoming fellow has paved the way to achieve the target by knowledge transfer and equally he has greatly benefited from conducting research at a world-leading surface engineering research centre. Clearly, this project has produced significant technical, economic and social benefits, thus contributing to European excellence and competitiveness. This Fellowship has also promoted long-term collaborations and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Europe.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union