Modification of polyester fibrous materials with surface barrier discharge for making them more hydrophilic

Abstract

The possibility of using surface barrier discharge for the surface modification of polyester fabrics with the aim of making them more hydrophilic was studied. The action of surface-barrier discharge leads to the formation of hydrophilic oxygen-containing groups on the surface of polyester fabrics owing to weak degradation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) macromolecules, and the thread surface becomes rougher on the nanolevel. This leads to a considerable decrease in the contact angle and to an increase in the wettability of the polyester fabric, i.e., the fabric becomes considerably more hydrophilic. Modification of the polyether fabric with surface barrier discharge does not cause appreciable decrease in the strength and breaking elongation of the material.