Chemical and physical analysis of cotton fabrics plasma-treated with a low pressure DC glow discharge

Abstract

This paper focuses on the modification of cotton fabrics using a low pressure DC glow discharge obtained in air. The influence of different operating parameters such as treatment time, discharge power and operating pressure on the chemical and physical properties of the cotton fabrics is studied in detail. Surface analysis and characterization of the plasma-treated cotton fabrics is performed using vertical wicking experiments, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and weight loss measurements. The cotton fabrics show a significant increase in wicking behaviour; an effect which increases with increasing treatment time, increasing discharge power and increasing pressure. Results also show that low pressure DC glow treatment leads to surface erosion of the cellulose fibres, accompanied by an incorporation of oxygen-containing groups (C-O, C=O, O-C-O and O-C=O) on the cotton fibres. The DC glow treatment has thus the potential to influence not only the chemical but also the physical properties of cotton fabrics and this without the use of water or chemicals.

Using atmospheric pressure plasma for enhancing the deposition of printing paste on cotton fabric for digital ink-jet printing

“…Urea acted like a moisture-absorbing agent in the printing paste to increase moisture regain during steaming, thereby accelerating the migration of dyes from the printing paste to the cotton fibres leading to the increased colour yield (Achwal 2002;Chen et al 2002). On the other hand, pretreatment with plasma using oxygen gas could increase the amount of hydrophilic groups such as -C=O, C=O, O-C-O and O-C=O on the cellulosic fibre surface Wong et al 1999;Inbakumar et al 2010;Lam et al 2011). The increased amount of hydrophilic groups could further enhance dye absorption and increase colour yield finally.…”

“…Therefore, the decreased amount of sodium bicarbonate might reduce the fixation of reactive dyes inside the fibre while the increased amount of water might impose the risk of reactive dye hydrolysis, thereby reducing the colour yield. On the other hand, the application of plasma pretreatment would etch the cotton fibre surface resulting in the formation of cracks (Wong et al 1999;Inbakumar et al 2010). After depositing the printing paste, the cracks so formed were filled up with the printing paste.…”

A Parameter Study of the Effect of a Plasma-Induced Ozone Colour-Fading Process on Sulphur-Dyed Cotton Fabric

“…Process parameters of plasma-induced ozone colour-fading treatment affect by each other [27][28][29]. An orthogonal array testing strategy (OATS) [30][31][32] method was used for analysing the optimum conditions of plasma-induced ozone colour-fading treatment.…”

Organofunctional Trialkoxysilane Sol-Gel Precursors for Chemical Modification of Textile Fibres

“…e fabrication of coatings on naturally micro-roughened textile bre surfaces produces speci c surface nano-modi cations, which signi cantly contribute to water-and oil-repellent properties. Accordingly, an increase in the bre surface roughness by plasma surface etching [49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57], prior the formation of the repellent sol-gel coating, enables the creation of a dual micro-to nano-structured bre topography with low adhesion super hydrophobicity, very high oleophobicity and self-cleaning properties. Such surfaces are characterised by a water static contact angle that is higher than 150°, an n-hexadecane static contact angle that is higher than 140° and a water roll-o angle that is lower than 7°, which allows water droplets to roll o fabric surfaces very easily, thus removing solid particles of dirt from the bres.…”