Surface Modification by Plasma-Based Processes

Evangelina De Las Hems, Gabriel Ybarra, Inigo Braceras and Pablo Corengia 

In this chapter, the use of plasma processes technology in the biomedical field is presented. The introduction focuses on plasmas and the associated techniques employed to modify 

The versatility of plasma-based treatments allows the design of special function-oriented surfaces for medical devices, which are presented next. An overview of the plasma-based thin films and surface treatments is included for a number of applications ranging from the improvement of mechanical properties and the modification of the surface chemistry of materials to regulate the interaction with living tissues, diagnostics, and drug delivery. 

Chemically reactive plasmas are widely used to modify the surface properties of materials. The technologies of plasma assisted processes, which are commercially used, allow a convenient modification of the resulting surfaces through a strict control of process parameters and variables. 

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Plasma processes may have different actions on a surface, involving the addition, removal, or changes of the material. Accordingly, surface modification by plasma-based processes can be classified as follows ... 

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