Energy
INDUSTRIES
What we do for DOE & Energy
From solar, nuclear, fission, fusion, and more, Plasma Processes serves a wide range of customers within the energy market. Our customers vary from governmental such as Department of Energy (DOE) to private start-ups driving change in new energy pathways. We offer innovative product and material solutions such as photovoltaic materials, coatings, and fabricated components. Innovative coatings permit higher temperatures which boost efficiency within a lot of these systems. Our goal is to provide highly efficient systems that generate large amounts of energy for our customers.
Power Generation
Nuclear Fusion
We provide advanced surface solutions to meet the extreme demands of nuclear fusion environments. Our coatings protect critical components from intense heat, neutron irradiation, plasma erosion, and tritium permeation, enabling longer lifetimes and improved performance of reactor walls, divertors, and diagnostic systems. We specialize in tailored ceramic, refractory metal, and barrier coatings that withstand the unique combination of thermal, chemical, and radiation stresses found in fusion reactors. By enhancing material durability and reducing maintenance needs, our technologies help advance the reliability and viability of fusion energy.
Nuclear Fission
We deliver advanced surface technologies designed to withstand the harsh conditions inside nuclear fission reactors. Our coatings protect critical components from corrosion, oxidation, high temperatures, radiation damage, and wear, extending the service life of fuel cladding, control rods, and structural materials. We offer specialized ceramic, metallic, and barrier coatings that enhance material performance under neutron irradiation and in aggressive coolant environments. By improving durability and safety, our solutions support the efficiency and longevity of nuclear fission power systems.
Fuel Cell
We provide advanced surface solutions to enhance the performance and durability of fuel cell components. Our coatings protect against corrosion, oxidation, and wear while improving electrical conductivity and catalytic activity where needed. We offer specialized metallic, ceramic, and polymer coatings tailored for bipolar plates, electrodes, and other critical parts to withstand the demanding chemical and thermal environments of fuel cells. By increasing efficiency and extending component life, our technologies help make fuel cell systems more reliable and cost-effective.
Solar
We develop advanced surface technologies to improve the efficiency and longevity of solar energy systems. Our coatings enhance light absorption, reduce reflection, and protect against environmental degradation such as UV damage, abrasion, and weathering. We offer specialized anti-reflective, hydrophobic, and durable barrier coatings for solar panels and related components. By boosting energy output and extending service life, our solutions help maximize the performance and value of solar power installations. In addition, we have even coated the facilities used to make solar panels to reduce contamination.
Sputter Targets
We support the sputtering industry with expertise in high-performance surface solutions and materials. Our coatings enhance the durability, purity, and uniform erosion of sputter targets, ensuring consistent thin-film deposition and optimal performance. We offer specialized treatments to reduce arcing, improve thermal management, and extend target life under demanding plasma conditions. By improving reliability and efficiency, our technologies help enable high-quality, cost-effective sputtering processes for advanced applications.
Inlet Temperatures vs. Exit Temperatures
Plasma Processes develops and applies turbine coatings used to improve and enhance surface properties demanded by extreme operating conditions. Applications range from anti-seizure coatings of nut threads to turbine blade coatings enabling the very high combustion chamber exit temperatures. Other applications include hard coatings to enhance wear resistance and abradable seal coatings.
Oil and Gas
Neutron Absorption and Detection
Plasma Processes applies neutron absorption coatings to oil industry logging systems involving geological sensors operating under the severe service conditions of deep drilling.
Valve Coatings
Deposits, corrosion, and erosion on a valve ball or seat will eventually result in downtime or loss of product from seal failure. Plasma Processes applies highly-adhered coatings to internal valve components to extend valve life. The coatings can be ground & lapped to dimensional specifications. Material compositions include metal matrix composites for wear and metal oxide ceramics for corrosion protection. We also apply a highly specialized tantalum/titanium oxide coating for severe service valves for the mining industry.
Semiconductors
Plasma Processes’ specialized, highly-engineered coatings and components are in high demand in the semiconductor industry due to the harsh environments required in crystal, semiconductor and wafer manufacturing. Harsh environments dramatically shorten the life of housing chambers and components, threatening the quality of the highly sensitive products. Plasma Processes fabricates high-purity, seamless refractory and platinum group metal crucibles and related components used in the manufacture of metal oxide single crystals including sapphire and YAG. Typical metals of fabrication include iridium, rhenium and tungsten with a wide range of diameters, heights and wall thicknesses available. Custom crucibles featuring complex geometries and multiple layers of different materials are also available. All crucibles can be refined to recover the precious metal. Lastly, the electrical resistance of a coating can be the single most important factor during wafer processing or LCD glass preparation in determining fab output quality. A high-quality coating can inhibit substrate corrosion and reduce downtime and expensive component replacement.
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Lastest Articles
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SAN FRANCISCO – Rubicon Space Systems won a NASA contract to develop a 110-newton
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Plasma Processes’ green propellant technology was showcased in the Missile Defense Agency’s Tech Update,
