Surface Treatment of PMIA Fibers with Sub-Atmospheric Pressure Dielectric Barrier Glow Discharge Plasma

Abstract

Meta-aramid fibers were treated by sub-atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier glow discharge plasma. The effect of plasma treatment time on the fiber surface physical and chemical properties was studied by using surface characterization techniques. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed to determine the surface morphology changes. FT-IR spectroscopy measurements were performed to investigate the change of chemical structure. Dynamic contact angle analysis (DCAA) was used to examine the changes of the fiber surface wettability. SEM analysis showed that there was obvious crack along the fibers’ axial direction present on the fiber surface, which resulted in the better wetting behavior of the plasma-treated PMIA fiber. FT-IR analysis showed that plasma had little effect on the chemical structure of PMIA fibers. DCAA analysis showed that the wettability of the samples could be improved with the treatment time increasing. In addition, a slight decrease in breaking strength was observed at the treatment time ranging from 60 to 180 s in comparison with the untreated sample.