Effect of Plasma Surface Modification on Comfort Properties of Polyester/Cotton Blend Fabric

Abstract

In this study, vacuum oxygen plasma was applied to enhance the comfort properties of polyester/ cotton (P/C) blend fabric (65/35%) for tropical climatic conditions. In addition, air and argon plasma were used to examine the aging effect by TEGEWA drop test. Taguchi method was employed to design the experiment and analyze the largest influential variable as well as optimal parameter levels. More attention was given to the evaluation of wickability, water vapour permeability/resistance, air permeability and surface characterization. Results revealed that all plasma treated comfort properties enhanced except air permeability of experimental runs at 1O 2 and 7O 2 . Specifically, wickability of fabric increased at least by 43.25% and 37.63% in warp and weft directions, correspondingly, within 5 min of wicking time, whereas the thermal resistance reduced at least by 20.16%. The SEM images depicted the formation of cracks, grooves, nanostructures and high degree of roughness on plasma treated surfaces.

EMI Shielding and Conductive Textiles Functionalized with (Ti,Cu) Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications

“…This gain in hydrophilicity combines the existence of polar groups promoted by the reactive O 2 atmosphere and the roughness changes, achieved by the Ar etching effect. The hydrophilicity of cotton treated in pure Ar or O 2 plasmas has already been reported in other works. , Cotton is mainly composed of cellulose mixed with hydrophobic impurities in the cuticle layer. When submitted to a mixed Ar + O 2 plasma atmosphere, the Ar becomes responsible to etch/destroy the noncellulosic impurities present in the outermost layers of the cotton fibers, while O 2 facilitates the etching process and the formation of new chemical polar groups (e.g., hydroxyl or carboxylic groups). , The combined effects enhance the knit’s activation, even for lower powers.…”

“…The hydrophilicity of cotton treated in pure Ar or O 2 plasmas has already been reported in other works. 43,44 Cotton is mainly composed of cellulose mixed with hydrophobic impurities in the cuticle layer. When submitted to a mixed Ar + O 2 plasma atmosphere, the Ar becomes responsible to etch/destroy the noncellulosic impurities present in the outermost layers of the cotton fibers, while O 2 facilitates the etching process and the formation of new chemical polar groups (e.g., hydroxyl or carboxylic groups).…”

“…When submitted to a mixed Ar + O 2 plasma atmosphere, the Ar becomes responsible to etch/destroy the noncellulosic impurities present in the outermost layers of the cotton fibers, while O 2 facilitates the etching process and the formation of new chemical polar groups (e.g., hydroxyl or carboxylic groups). 43,44 The combined effects enhance the knit's activation, even for lower powers.…”

EMI shielding and conductive textiles functionalized with (Ti,Cu) nanomaterials for biomedical applications

“…The hydrophilicity of cotton treated in pure Ar or O2 plasmas has already been reported in other works [35,36]. Cotton is mainly composed of cellulose mixed with hydrophobic impurities in the cuticle layer.…”

“…Cotton is mainly composed of cellulose mixed with hydrophobic impurities in the cuticle layer. When submitted to a mixed Ar + O2 plasma atmosphere, the Ar becomes responsible to etch/destroy the non-cellulosic impurities present in the outermost layers of the cotton fibres, while O2 facilitates the etching process and the formation of new chemical polar groups (e.g hydroxyl or carboxylic groups) [35,36]. The combined effects enhance the knit's activation, even for lower powers.…”