Abstract
When the surface of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) nonwoven fabric was treated with an oxygen plasma, the hydrophilic nature of the sample surface was improved. However, the sample was only colored slightly by in a dyeing test with dyestuffs done to investigate the effect of surface functionalization. A mixed-gas plasma treatment with fluorocarbon was able produce a sample that could be dyed a dark color using acid and reactive dyes. From the results of fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements, it was found that the carboxyl group increased on the sample surface as a result of the mixed-gas plasma treatment. As a simple evaluation method for investigating the effect of plasma treatment, the dyeing test was effective.
