Abstract
Polyester fabric samples – PET (poly (ethylene terephtalate)), were treated with oxygen plasma, in order to alter the hydrophilicity of such material. The process parameters: working pressure, current, tension and temperature were kept constant, varying only the treatment time. In order to evaluate the change caused on samples hydrophilicity, as well as the influence of the treatment time, the vertical wicking test was used. The samples were stored at standard temperature and pressure conditions, and their wettability were measured one day after the treatment and repeated after 30, 60 and 360 days, in order to check the stability of the effects produced. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman and ATR (Attenuated total reflection) spectroscopies were used to evaluate physical and chemical alterations on the samples surface. The results have shown a substantial improvement on the hydrophilicity of the treated samples compared to the non-treated sample.
Highlights
Polymers are materials of large industrial application
Plasma technique is an important alternative to treat the surface of the textile materials, as it eliminates processing with water and use of chemical reagents[9,10,11,12]
The fabric was washed in a bath of water and neutral detergent under agitation, at 100 °C for 10 minutes in order to remove any impurity from the production process and∕or storage
Summary
Polymers are materials of large industrial application. their properties like hydrophilicity; biocompatibility, adhesion, friction and dyeability do not serve, eventually, the industry desires. Fabric water absorption capacity is an important characteristic that should be fulfilled by a textile materials used in clothing, which depend mainly on its fiber properties[5]. The poly (ethylene terephtalate) (PET) is used by the textile clothing industry due to its versatility and durability, though it is uncomfortable when in contact with the skin mainly due to its low water absorption capacity (0.2 to 0.8%), which is due to its fiber smooth surface and absence of chemical hydrophilic groups, see Scheme 1, like –OH in its molecular structure[5,6]. Plasma technique is an important alternative to treat the surface of the textile materials, as it eliminates processing with water and use of chemical reagents[9,10,11,12]
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