Improving synthetic and natural dyeability of polyester fabrics by dielectric barrier discharge

Polyester fabrics were modified by dielectric barrier discharge and then dyed with different classes of natural (henna, madder, lotus, and matricaria) and synthetic (acidic, basic, and disperse) dyes. The approach introduced in this work comprises the formation of functional groups on the surfaces of the polyester fabrics by using atmospheric pressure plasma. After plasma treatment, the properties of the fabric, including surface morphology and dyeing properties with different classes of synthetic and natural dyes, were investigated. The modified polyester fabrics treated with different dyes exhibited different dyeing properties. The results show that dielectric barrier discharge modification on the surface of poly(ethylene terephthalate) fabrics improved dyeability of fabrics. The extent of improvement for natural dyes is higher than that for synthetic dyes.