Plasma Surface Treatments of Nonwovens

Abstract

Plasma treatment has been used for surface activation and modification of textiles. The ionized, highly reactive species, such as ions, electrons, and radicals, in plasma modify the surface of the substrate material, and the composition of plasma depends on the gas used. Plasma technology is an environmentally friendly process and resource-efficient in nature. There is no solvent emission or wastewater in the process and drying processes with high energy and time consumption are not required. The textile applications of plasma include sterilization, wettability and hydrophobicity, dyeability enhancement, flame-retardant finishing, and antimicrobial properties. Plasma surface modification applied to fiber is a way to add value to a nonwoven fabric and enhance the functional performance of the final product. This chapter provides an overview of the plasma treatments of nonwovens that enhance their surface-related properties.