Surface Characteristics of Wool and Poly ( ethylene Terephthalate) Fabrics and Film Treated with Low-Temperature Plasma Under Atmospheric Pressure

Abstract

Wool and poly ( ethylene terephthalate) fabrics and film were treated with low-tem perature plasmas of helium/argon or acetone/argon under atmospheric pressure for 10 to 180 seconds. Although argon itself cannot independently generate a plasma under atmospheric pressure by applying high frequency voltage, it is easily generated by adding a small quantity of helium or acetone to argon gas. Wettability of the fabrics and surface tension of the film increased considerably with the treatment within 30 seconds. ESCA analysis was used to elucidate the surface chemical composition of fibers treated with atmospheric low-temperature plasma. Relative O1 s intensity in creased considerably and oxygen was incorporated in the form of —CO— and —COO— on the fiber surface. From these results, it appears that low-temperature plasma by atmospheric pressure discharge is effective for modifying the polymer surface, as it acts in the same fashion as low-temperature plasma by glow discharge.

Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet Treatment of Human Hair Fibers

“…Natural and synthetic textile fibers have been treated with atmospheric pressure plasma systems to alter wettability, surface roughness, chemical composition, and dye uptake [6,[10][11][12][13][14][15]. We could find only one report about the air plasma treatment of hair fibers to alter surface chemistry [16].…”

Improving Functional Characteristics of Wool and Some Synthetic Fibres

“…Plasma pretreatments are environmentally benign and energy efficient processes for modifying the surface chemistry of materials [68][69]. And also they can be applied to all kinds of fibres, yarns or fabrics (such as wool, polyacrylic, polyamide, and polyester,) to give these materials an extremely wide range of functionalities (anti-felting, antistatic, flame retardancy and oleophobicity) [70].…”

Lipid Role in Wool Dyeing

“…Plasma treatments, which utilize a gaseous electrical discharge, are reported to be surface specific for wool fibers (Kan et al, 2004) and offer the potential of simple, clean, solvent-free, and inexpensive treatment (Thomas et al, 2005;Körner & Wortmann, 2005;Klausen et al, 1995;Kalkbrenner et al, 1990). All these treatments (Thomas, 2007;Wakida et al, 1993Wakida et al, , 1996Wakida et al, , 1994Lee et al, 2001;Höcker et al, 1994;Yoon et al, 1996;Jocic et al, 2005;Kan et al, 1998;Kan & Yuen, 2008;ElZawahry et al, 2006;Kan, 2006) have shown to invariably increase the rate of uptake of dyes by wool. Some studies have revealed that little or no physical change to the surface structure of wool fibers results from treatment with plasma, whereas others have found significant damage (Thomas, 2007;Wakida et al, 1993;Yoon et al, 1996;Kan, 2006;Erra et al, 2002).…”