Study on Generation of Glow Discharge Plasma in Air and Surface Modification of Wool Fabric

Abstract

A lamellar electrode structure is proposed to achieve the generation of a large-area plasma and the effective processing of the wool fabric with the electrode on only one side of the treated material. The lamellar electrode can form the curved electric field lines passing through the discharge air gap and the wool fabric, creating the condition for the action of plasma. Meanwhile, the micron-scale discharge air gap is constructed through the direct contact between the electrode and the treated material. Specifically, it can effectively inhibit the development of the electron avalanche, thereby achieving a through-type glow discharge in air between the electrode and the wool fabric under the strong electric field. Through the scanning electron microscope and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy tests, it can be observed that the scales on the surface of wool fiber are effectively destroyed and the polar groups are introduced to the surface of wool fiber after the plasma treatment. Obviously, the wettability of wool fiber is greatly improved, and the wetting time is reduced from more than 1800 s to less than 0.5 s.