PIII in batch processing mode using HV Blumlein pulser with pulse extended to the microsecond range

In this work, high-energy PIII process is used to solve the problem of soldering terminals to silver film electrodes without compromising their adhesion to ceramic substrates in electronic components such as ceramic capacitors. Besides, PIII batch-processing mode is other important technique used to optimize the treatment of metallic and polymeric surfaces for industrial applications such as components with rigid qualification used in the aerospace industry. For this, a sample holder made of stainless steel (SS304) with the shape of a cage allows applying the PIII processing on both faces of the flat components, simultaneously. As the batch-mode process requires increased pulse duration, the redesign of a HV Blumlein pulser was made to increase the pulse duration from 1.0 μs to 5.0 μs, but at the cost of decreasing the output voltage from 60 kV during treatment to less than 20 kV. The longer pulse duration permits deeper penetration of ions into the material surface.