Plasma Hydrophilization Effect on Different Textile Structures

Summary: The degree of plasma‐induced hydrophilization and the stability of the treatment are closely linked to the textile structure and the weave construction. This study investigates the plasma activation of polyester (PES) fabric structures to improve their wettability, as well as the aging effects. The hydrophilic modification is carried out by low pressure plasma treatments using oxygen containing gaseous mixtures (Ar/O2 and He/O2), and it is characterized by calculating contact angles (static and advancing) from capillary rise tests with water. In all cases, the wettability of plasma‐treated PES fabrics is improved significantly due to the formation of polar groups on the surface. In particular, the hydrophilicity of looser structured fabrics is improved remarkably as compared to tightly woven fabrics. Furthermore, the capillary phenomenon in fibrous assemblies is also described in this study. SEM image of a tightly woven fabric and the schematic representation of the liquid flow within a plasma‐hydrophilized fabric by capillary forces. magnified image SEM image of a tightly woven fabric and the schematic representation of the liquid flow within a plasma‐hydrophilized fabric by capillary forces.