Textile Plasma Processing Unit

In recent decades, plasma technology has provided an appropriate condition for surface modification of nano-sized textiles. Surface activation by cold plasma is one of the novel methods for preparing the textiles and polymers surfaces. Many textiles because of having low surface energy cannot be directly dyed or underwent similar treatments. In this regard, preparation methods have been developed base on the cold plasma technology. Some of plasma preparations include simple topographical or chemical changes in the surface layers of fabrics, fibers and polymers. These modifications create some characteristics in textiles, such as hydrophilicity, adhesion promotion, affecting the dying and printing process, changing the electrical conductivity and improving antistatic properties of the fibers, hydrophobicity, oleophobicity, antibacterial properties, fire-retardant properties, wrinkle resistance, cotton sterilization and desizing. Therefore, surface preparation of polymers and fabrics has drawn much attention in polymer and textile industries.

Based on the type of gas, plasma intensity and exposure time, surface modification is done in four different steps. Firstly, the inert gases plasmas (He and Ar) clean the surface by removing the contaminants. Then, the surface is abraded using active gases such as SF6, CF4 and O2 in combination with inert gases. This feature leads to the surface roughness, which can improve surface dye absorption and dying process. In the third step, the use of other active gases such as N2, He, Ar, NH3, N2O, CO2, air or some of its compounds can change the surface properties by substituting or adding chemical active functional groups such as hydroxyl, carbonyl and carboxyl. These chemical agents can create new surface properties. Continuing the plasma processes, in the fourth stage, can lead to massive chemical changes at the surface which stem from the reaction and polymerization of gaseous species with surface polymer fibers. In this case, a monolithic coating, with distinct properties compared to the textile inner structure, is formed at the surface.