Isytech Plasma - Traitements de surfaces - Fabrication de machines

Barrier layers

Le Belleguy — 2026-03-10T08:48:31Z

Silica coating

The deposition of amorphous silica (SiOx) on polymer containers represents a significant advance in plastic packaging. This thin layer of SiOx acts as a barrier, creating an impermeable boundary on the substrate.
This deposition has many advantages:
It is transparent and colourless, microwave-compatible and does not affect the recyclability of the materials.

By forming an interface between the plastic material and the external environment, amorphous silica improves the functional properties of the packaging without altering its mechanical characteristics.
This PECVD technology is particularly valuable for sensitive products and offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution for the plastics industry.

Carbon layer deposition

There are a wide range of approaches for depositing barrier films to compensate for the high permeability of plastics in packaging applications.

ISYTECH has developed a range of patented PECVD processes to achieve the high barrier levels on polymers desired within the industry.

Some of these processes are approved by the FDA for food packaging.

The packaging is placed in vacuum conditions of less than 1/1000 of an atmosphere. A gas is then injected and an electric current is applied.
By choosing the right gas, it is possible to obtain a thin layer of organic material - a few tens of nanometres thick - on the inner wall of the packaging, which has specific barrier properties
its sensitive, and offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution for the plastics industry.

HDPE packaging	Diffusion reduction factor
Essence/ White spirit	30 to 50
Acetic acid	5
Butyl acetate	20
Agrochemical liquids	30 to 50
Migration of polymer compounds	2 to 5

PET packaging	Diffusion reduction factor
Oxygen	10 to 30
Carbon dioxide	7
Water – Acetic acid	2 to 3
Migration of polymer compounds	2 to 5

These machines are developed collaboratively within the group.
Delta Engineering

Surface activations

Le Belleguy — 2026-03-10T08:23:40Z

Introduction to plasma surface activation

Plasma surface activation treatments modify materials through two main mechanisms: the creation of a reactive layer or the introduction of chemically active functional groups and radicals. These modifications enable a durable bond between various materials, such as metals, plastics or ceramics, by creating direct interactions at the molecular level. This approach not only circumvents thermal limitations, but also improves the strength and uniformity of the bond across the interface.

There are two main types of activation using PECVD:

• Activation using a noble gas
• Activation using a reactive gas

Noble gas

A standard method involves using argon plasma. A plastic substrate (for example) is placed in a vacuum chamber filled with argon. When sufficient electrical voltage is applied inside the chamber, some of the argon atoms are ionised, creating plasma.
The resulting argon ions are driven to regain their electrical neutrality and seek to combine with electrons.
Their high levels of reactivity allow them to extract electrons from molecules on the surface of the substrate.
The polymer's molecular bonds are broken and single electrons are left on the surface of the plastic.
This creates a chemically active layer, preparing the material for better adhesion or other reactions.

Common results with this solution: Cleaning, light etching and cross-linking.

Reactive gas

Reactive gases are widely used in plasma treatments to modify material surfaces, enabling strong bonding between dissimilar materials.
Oxygen plasma is a common example, where oxygen gas is ionised to create a reactive environment. Oxygen plasma generates new functional groups on the surface of plastics or polymers.
These groups increase surface energy, making the material more hydrophilic and more reactive.

Common results with this solution: improved adhesion, functionalisation and cleaning.

Plastics processing

When treating plastics with plasma, it is essential to take into account the dynamic mobility of polymer chains and their specific characteristics.

Plasma treatment of polymers depends on the crystallinity, cross-linking, functional groups, etc. of the polymer.

For successful plasma treatment, understanding of the surface chemistry and the desired result is important.

That is why at Isytech, we have extensive experimentation capabilities in our laboratory in order to optimise each process.
Laboratory

Introduction to plasma

Le Belleguy — 2026-03-10T08:16:52Z

What is plasma? ?

When a substance receives a continuous supply of energy, its temperature rises, causing it to change from a Solid state to a Liquid state, then to a Gas state.
If energy continues to be supplied, the atoms lose their electrons, forming a mixture of charged particles – negative electrons and ions. This phenomenon gives rise to Plasma, also known as the fourth state of matter.

Why is this interesting?

The species present in the plasma react with each other and with nearby surfaces.
These reactions cause physicochemical changes to the surface and result in new characteristics.

Adaptable to a wide variety of materials and geometries, the treatments induce localised and lasting changes.

The processes do not use solvents and consume little energy, making it a clean and sustainable technology.