Jozef Ráheľ, Ph.D.

THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE

Electrical and Computer Engineering

409 Ferris Hall,  Knoxville, TN 37996-2100     

( Office:    (865) 974-5432

E-mail:                   jrahel@utk.edu

                   

Research area

·                                Atmospheric-plasma treatment of polymers

·                                Development of novel atmospheric plasma sources

Achievements

·                                Achieved permanent hydrofilization of polypropylene and polyester nonwoven fabric (1 patent)

·                                Solved problem of electrode design for Coplanar Diffuse Surface Discharge (1 patent)

·                                Improved adhesion of PET and HDPE fibers to rubber and epoxy resin

·                                Invented underwater plasma source for the treatment of polymer fabrics

·                                Developed a negative ions stabilized DC source of homogenous plasma for diagnostic purposes.

 

Research experience

2002       University of Tennessee Knoxville, USA (Prof. J.R. Roth)

Project: Comparative study of physical and chemical processes in CDSD (Coplanar Diffuse Surface Discharge) and OUAGDP (One Atmosphere Uniform Glow Discharge Plasma)

 

2001       University of Wuppertal, Germany, (Prof. J.Engemann)

Project: Oscilloscopic characterization of elementary pulses in the surface barrier discharge.

 

2000       University of Greifswald, Germany, (Prof. H.E. Wagner)

Project: Cross-correlation spectroscopy calibration of dielectric barrier discharge.

 

1995       Institute of Ion Physics, Innsbruck, Austria, (Prof. T. Maerk)

Project: Mass spectroscopy of electron-molecule collisions.

 

Work history

2002 –    NSF-NATO Postdoctoral Associate

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

University of Tennessee Knoxville USA

 

2001 – 2002 Research Assistant at Institute of Physics

Comenius University Bratislava, Slovak Republic

 

Education

Ph.D.       Comenius University Bratislava, Slovak Republic

Institute of Physics  (1998-2001)

Major Area:       Plasma Physics

Dissertation:      Modification of surface properties of nonwoven fabrics by atmospheric pressure plasma.

 

M.Sc.       Comenius University Bratislava, Slovak Republic

Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics         (1993-1998)

Major Area:       Plasma Physics

Thesis:              The influence of halogencarbons to ozone generation in negative corona discharge

Selected publications

1.     Simor M, Rahel J, Cernak M et al.: Atmospheric-pressure plasma treatment of polyester nonwoven fabrics for electroless plating, SURFACE AND COATINGS TECHNOLOGY., Volume 172(1): 1-6 JULY 15 2003

2.     Rahel J, Simor M, Cernak M et al.: Hydrophilization of polypropylene nonwoven fabric using surface barrier discharge, SURFACE AND COATINGS TECHNOLOGY, 169-170: 604-608 JUNE 2 2003

3.     Simor M, Rahel J, Vojtek P, et al.: Atmospheric-pressure diffuse coplanar surface discharge for surface treatments, APPL PHYS LETT 81 (15): 2716-2718 OCT 7 2002

4.     Rahel J, Cernak M, Hudec I, et al.: Atmospheric-pressure plasma treatment of ultra-high-molecular-weight polypropylene fabric, CZECH J PHYS 50: 445-448 Suppl. 3 2000

5.     Stefecka M, Rahel J, Hudec I, et al.: Atmospheric-pressure plasma treatment of polyester monofilaments for rubber reinforcing, J MATER SCI LETT 19 (20): 1869-1871 OCT 2000

6.     Rahel J, Cernak M, Hudec I, et al.: Surface modification of polyester monofilaments by atmospheric-pressure nitrogen plasma, PLASMAS AND POLYMERS 5 (3/4), 119-127, 2000

7.     Stefecka M, Rahel J, Cernak M, et al.: Atmospheric-pressure plasma treatment of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fibers, J MATER SCI LETT 18 (24): 2007-2008 DEC 1999

Patents:

1.     Cernak M, Rahel J, Simor M: Electrode system for generation of diffuse coplanar discharge and the method for its manufacturing SVK Patent Application PP 136-2003 (January 31, 2003)

2.     Cernak M, Rahel J, Simor M: Method and apparatus for the treatment of fabric materials SVK Patent Application PP 629-2001 (Novemebr 6, 2002)

3. Janypka P, Reksova V, Hudec I, Krump H, Cernak M, Šimor M, Rahel J: A method for the surface  treatment of reinforcing materials SVK Patent Application PP 1191-2000 (March 3, 2002)