Application of DC plasma discharge and /or Nanosilver treatments to Poly (ethylene terephthalate) fabrics to induce Hydrophilicity and antibacterial activity

A B ST R A C T This research studies the surface modification of poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fabric that was induced by DC plasma discharge for nanosiliver treatments. At first, DC plasma discharge was employed systematically as a function of plasma device parameters under different operating conditions including different time, different current and different hydrostatic pressure employing chemically inert argon or nitrogen as a working gas. The optimization of the best of these parameters were performed by the measurements and evaluation of mechanical properties, air permeability and water absorbency, Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) and the surface morphological changes of pretreated polyester fabrics were observed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) photographic analysis , Then the pretreated PET fabric with plasma by the best conditions are subjected to nanosilver treatment by two different silver concentrations .The antibacterial activity of plasma treated and /or nanosilver treated PET against gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aurous) and gram negative bacteria(Escherichia coli) were examined. The results obtained showed that both the hydrophilicity and antibacterial behaviours against gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aurous) and gram negative bacteria(Escherichia coli) were highly improved by the treatment of fabric by either individual or combined DC cold plasma or nanosilver treatments.