Application of AFM for identification of fibre surface changes after plasma treatments

Abstract

<title/>The application of low pressure argon and oxygen plasma treatment as an eco-friendly process of Lyocell textile modification was investigated. Using atomic force microscopy, the changes in nanomorphology induced by plasma treatments were recorded. The chemical groups of the outer fibre layer treated with plasmas and silver compounds (AgNO3 and AgCl) were analysed using Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy. The viscosimetric method was used to determine possible changes of the cellulose polymer molecular weight after plasma treatments. The experimental results provided data useful for better understanding the art of plasma action on the fibre surface, depending on the nature of gases. They also indicate different mechanisms of silver nanoparticle binding and their distribution on the surface of the treated Lyocell fabric, depending on the parameters of the applied plasma process.