Degradation phenomena on atmospheric air plasma treatment of polyester fabrics

Surface treatments are commonly employed on woven fabrics to render properties such as dyeability, antibacterial feature, self-cleaning, etc. A variety of environmentally benign cold plasma present a viable alternative the conventional wet chemical processes. The various designs, however, may differ in efficiency and effect they exert fabrics. In this work polyester fabric was treated by diffuse co-planar surface barrier discharges atmospheric air for lengths time. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy investigation revealed that changes chemistry occurred within 30 s treatment. Carbon containing contaminations were removed became more oxidized, new states have not been developed. As an effect, wettability wickability significantly increased. slight increase roughness also after treatment according AFM measurements. tensile strength showed gradually decreasing trend with respect time could be attributed damaged sites generated local excessive etching plasma. results show detrimental prolonged poly(ethylene-terephthalate) (PET) Employing longer times 120 180 mechanical reduced ca. 40% 50%, respectively, without significant morphology.