Effect of plasma treatment on the spreading of micro drops through polylactic acid (PLA) and polyester (PET) fabrics

The effect of oxygen plasma treatment on two polyester fibre types, polylactic acid and standard polyester, and the influence on their respective wetting characteristics is investigated. A novel analytical system, based on image analysis, was developed for measuring the rate of spreading and dynamic movement of liquid over the fabrics. The techniques of X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were utilized to examine the nature of the surface modifications after the plasma treatment. The analyses showed that the oxygen plasma treatment abraded the surface of the PLA fibres, but did not alter their chemical nature, whilst the surfaces of the PET fibres were less abraded, but had enhanced polarity due to an increase in carbonyl groups. The increased surface abrasion made little difference to the wetting or wicking rates of water on PLA fibres, but the increased polarity made a large difference to the rates on PET fibres. © AUTEX.