Effect of CO2 laser radiation on surface properties of synthetic fibres

Chemical treatment methods are most often used in the present for polymer surface modification; however, these methods are frequently “environmentally unfriendly”. So, new technologies are now considered, especially in physical treatment methods. This is the case of laser technologies, like CO2 laser radiation. Morphological modifications can be produced on the surface of polymers, resulting in changes in the physical and chemical properties of the materials. In this study, different experimental conditions were applied in CO2 laser irradiation of polyamide (PA 6.6) fibres. Resulting morphological modification of surface and possible crystallinity variation were investigated. SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) analysis were used.