Eco-friendly Surface Modification and Nanofinishing of Textile Polymers to Enhance Functionalisation

Abstract

The chapter gives brief information about the application of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma and nanotechnology in the fields of textiles. Four types of atmospheric pressure plasma are used for surface modification of textiles, namely, corona discharge, atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ), atmospheric pressure glow discharge (APGD) and dielectric barrier discharge (DBD). Cold plasma or non-thermal plasma is considered superior to other conventional modification techniques as it can modify the polymeric surface without altering the bulk properties of the material. The chapter also provides a brief idea about the classification, synthesis and application of nanoparticles existing in different forms. The application of nano-sized particles on textile materials confers unexpected properties different from those of the bulk material. Together with plasma technology, nanoparticle-coated fabrics can enhance the overall wear, comfort and care of the fabric. This chapter reviews the recent studies involving modification and characterisation of textile highlighting plasma and nano-pretreatment. This chapter also attempts to give an overview of the literature on treatment of textiles categorising them on the basis of different functional properties like antimicrobial, UV resistance, easy care, dye adsorption and flame-retardant finishes that could be achieved by the application of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles and enhanced by plasma pretreatment.