Treatment of Wool Fabrics by Argon Atmospheric Pressure Low Temperature Plasma and its Dyeing

Abstract

With the increase in the environmental protection consciousness of people, attention has focused on plasma technology because of its efficiency and environmentally friendliness. In order to improve the dyeing behavior of wool fabrics, surface modification of wool fabrics was carried out using an atmospheric pressure (argon) low temperature plasma treatment (LTP). Morphology and chemical composition analyses of the treated wool fiber surface were carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The effect on the surface properties of wool fabrics treated for different times was evaluated. The results showed that the coloration of wool fabric is improved with an argon atmospheric pressure low temperature plasma (LTP) treatment but the fabric has a lower color fastness to washing and rubbing. This results from the formation of sulfonic groups and the increase in nitrogen content attributed to more severe etching and oxidization on the surface of wool fibers.