Nano-scale surface modification and functionalization for textile materials

Abstract

The thesis is concerned with the study of the development of a nano-scale surface modification and funcationalisation of different textile materials, included polyester, wool and cotton, utilising the atmospheric pressure plasma technique. Based on the experimental results, it was found that the nano-scale surface modifications of textile materials was achievable under the appropriate control of the treatment parameters namely the ignition power of plasma, treatment duration, concentration of reactive plasma gas, and jet distance between the plasma nozzle and the textile substrates. These four parameters were the major attributes of the surface texturisation and funcationilsation of the substrates. The optimum conditions of the nano-scale plasma modification of each fabric substrates were developed to hydrophilise or hydrophobise the textile substrates. Surface wetting behaviour of the substrates was reverted using the appropriate kind of reactive gases. Oxygen (O₂) was utilised for hydrophilisation of polyester and wool while tetrafluoromethane (CF₄) was utilised for hydrophobisation of cotton. In significance, oxygen was also found to be capable of hydrophobisation of cotton taking the ageing property of the plasma-modified substrate into account. Nano-scale plasma etching-hydrophilisation of hydrophobic textile substrates, both polyester and wool, was found to be achievable by He-O₂ atmospheric pressure plasma with the appropriate tuning of the plasma operation parameters. Nano-scale plasma etching-hydrophobisation of hydrophilic textile substrate, cotton, was found to be achievable by He-O₂ and He-CF₄ atmospheric pressure plasma with the appropriate manipulation of the plasma operation parameters. Though plasma was capable of modifying a wide scope of textile substrates, plasma modification showed substrate dependence. The optimum condition for plasma functionalisation deviated for each textile materials. Good knowledge of the substrate was essential for the manipulation of the plasma processing of different textile materials. Nature of the fibres needed to be taking into consideration prior to the modification. This study offers a deeper understanding of the physicochemical interaction between plasma and the textile materials.