Method for decontaminating a preform with reactive species obtained by mixing a precursor agent and a plasma
AssigneeSidel Participations
InventorsSandy Letellier, Grégory Toutain, Foune Seck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method for decontaminating a preform made of thermoplastic material by exposing at least part of the preform to reactive species obtained by mixing a precursor agent with a plasma, the plasma being generated by injection of a carrier gas into a reactor, the method including mixing of the precursor agent with the plasma is carried out exclusively outside the reactor before it is in contact with the preform. The invention also relates to a decontamination device for carrying out the method.
Claims16
A method for decontaminating a preform (14) made of thermoplastic material by exposing at least part of the preform (14) to reactive species (RS) obtained by mixing a precursor agent (AP) with a plasma (P), the plasma (P) being generated by injection of a carrier gas (G) into a reactor (40), the method comprising:
- introducing the precursor (AP) into a decontamination line (52) upstream of the reactor (40);
- mixing of the precursor agent (AP) with the plasma (P), wherein the mixing is carried out exclusively outside the reactor (40) before it is in contact with the preform (14), wherein the mixing occurs in a branch pipe (68) fluidly connected to the reactor (40) and the decontamination line (52);
- and
- transporting the reactive species (RS) downstream of the branch pipe (68) via the decontamination line (52) to a nozzle, wherein the nozzle is configured to inject the reactive species (RS) onto at least a part of the preform (14).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.