Wettability Control and Contamination Resistance of Fiber Using Atmospheric Pressure Plasma

Abstract

To control the contamination resistance of polymer surface, hydrophilization and hydrophobization of polymer were attempted by two atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) treatments. Poly(ethylene terephthalate) film and fabric were treated by using APP-oxidation with nitrogen gas and APP-coating with hexametyldisiloxane (HMDSO). Wettability of polymer film and fabric was evaluated by the sessile drop and the Wilhelmy method. The APP-coating increased water and oil repellency, and the APP-oxidation remarkably reduced water contact angle. Characterization of polymer surface was conducted by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscope (AFM), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The antifouling property of fabrics was investigated using carbon black and red clay as a model particulate soils.