Improvements in the dyeability of polyester fabrics by atmospheric pressure oxygen plasma treatment

Abstract

Polyester has been widely used as an apparel and technical textile material in the form of fibers, films and plastics due to its excellent mechanical and physical properties. However, its poor surface properties have limited its end‐use versatility. In this study, the surface of a polyester fabric was modified by atmospheric pressure plasma treatment with oxygen under different operating conditions to improve the hydrophilicity and dyeability of the fabric. The oxygen plasma‐treated polyester surfaces were exposed to different treatment times and were analyzed to investigate the changes in the morphology and chemical nature of the surface by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X‐ray diffraction and by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, respectively. The surface roughness of the fabric was improved by plasma etching, which was confirmed by SEM and X‐ray diffraction, as well as the increased presence of oxygen‐based functional groups on the polyester fabric, which was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy, resulted in an improvement in the fabric wettability. The color strength values of the oxygen plasma‐treated fabric, dyed with disperse dyes at 100°C, were slightly higher than those obtained using the untreated fabric at 130°C. The surface roughness and K/S values of the treated fabric decreased as the ageing period was increased up to 42–63 days. The color fastness properties of the dyed oxygen plasma‐treated fabric were excellent.