Properties and morphology of surface modified man-made fibers using a theta-pinch device

Abstract

In this research, the properties and the morphology of plasma-treated man-made fibers were studied. Polypropylene, polyester and rayon fibers were treated by a theta-pinch device that produced oxygen and nitrogen plasma for different treatment times. The Lorentz force caused the induced plasma to move toward the fiber in and abrupt manner. The induced plasma caused an increase in the roughness on the fiber surface as revealed in SEM photographs. It was found that tensile properties, linear density and diameter of plasma-treated fibers were affected by the type of gases and the number of plasma shots. However, the flammability of both treated and untreated fibers were comparable. All plasma-treated fibers also exhibited a remarkable increase in hydrophilic characteristic due to the formation of hydrophilic groups on fiber surface confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy.