Improvement on Hydrophobicity of Synthetic Textiles by Plasma Treatment – A Review

Condensates of stearic (St), palmitic (Pa) or myristic (My) acids with polyethylene glycols (PEG) 300, 400, 600, 2000 or 6000, are utilized as emulsifiers for kerosene ∓ in ∓ water pigment printing pastes. Pastes based on condensates of PEG 300 or 400 are unstable while the others are stable. Rheology of stable pastes, aside from those based on a commercial emulsifier, are of a non ∓ Newtonian, shear thinning ∓ thixotropic flow. The order of the flow properties of pastes enhanced are found. Cotton pigment prints using the nine pastes are sharp and of comparable handle, colour strength and color fastness to those based on a paste of either a commercial emulsifier or synthetic thickener (except for Pa∓6000). The pigment prints of 65/35 cotton/polyester are sharp only upon using pastes of commercial emulsifier, synthetic thickener, St∓600, St∓2000, St∓6000 and My∓2000. After 7 days of storing, all pastes are stable with increased apparent viscosities and induced color strength on both cotton and blended fabrics.