Improvement on Hydrophobicity of Synthetic Textiles by Plasma Treatment – A Review

Plasma treatment is becoming increasingly popular in enhancing the hydrophobicity of synthetic textiles. In recent years, the study of surface hydrophobisation by means of plasma treatment, under low or atmospheric pressure, has drawn a great deal of attention. A large amount of research has reported on the possibility of applying this technique with merits that include a dry process, reduced pollution, a single step treatment, etc. In this regard, this paper reviews recent approaches on enhancing the hydrophobicity of synthetic textiles by means of plasma treatment. The basic working principle of generating plasma to enhance hydrophobicity is explained. Both low and atmospheric plasma treatments are introduced. A higher cost is usually required for low pressure plasma because of the investment on a vacuum chamber. On the other hand, carrier gas is required for atmospheric plasma treatment, which is not the case for low pressure plasma. The experimental set up and the chemicals involved in the processes are discussed. In order to enhance surface hydrophobicity, fluorocarbons are always applied, such as perfluoroalkylacrylate, perfluorodecaline and tetrafluoroethylene.