Effect of Plasma Modification on the Chemical Structure of a Polyethylene Terephthalate Fabrics Surface

Investigations focused on physico-chemical modifications of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nonwoven fabric fibre surface. To improve the adhesive properties of textile products towards TiO2, their surface was treated in low-temperature plasma (cold plasma). Plasma treatment of PET fabrics was performed in carbon dioxide and/or argon pressure. Potential changes in the chemical structure of polyester fabric can be caused by the following: a homolytic splitting of the ester bonds, a release of volatile degradation products (mainly CO and CO2), a cross-linking, reactions of macro radicals [alkyl (center dot CH2-CH2 similar to) and phenyl (center dot C6H4 similar to)] with oxygen, and a subsequent formation of hydroxy-aromatic rings. Experimental investigations confirmed the fact of modification of the chemical structure of the PET surface caused by plasma treatment of the fibre surface.