Improvement in surface-related properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/cotton fabrics by glow-discharge treatment

Poly(ethylene terephthalate)/cotton fabrics have been treated in low-temperature plasmas to increase the hydrophilicity and, therefore to impart soil resistance and to improve dyeability. The fabrics have been treated in glow-discharge apparatus using acrylic acid and water plasmas. Two alternative modifications were applied. The plasma conditions, such as exposure time and discharge power. were varied to control the extent of plasma surface modification in the first approach, while the acrylic acid content and the incubation time were changed in the second approach. It is observed that the glow-discharge treatment significantly improves the wettability of the fabrics. More hydrophilic surfaces are created due to the treatment and, therefore, the dyeability of the fabrics is much better. No significant colour change, neither with repeated washing cycles nor with long period of storage, is observed.