Timeliness of Cold Plasma Treatment on Surface Modification of Polylactic Acid Fibers

Abstract

Polylactic acid (PLA) fiber is a promising material due to its biodegradability, excellent mechanical properties, and good biocompatibility. However, its surface is chemically inert and has poor interfacial compatibility with gases due to a low number of polar groups. To address this issue, this study utilized cold plasma and solution wet pretreatment with varying pH levels to modify the surface of PLA fibers. The use of solution wet pretreatment helped mitigate the negative effects of plasma treatment on the timeliness, which improved the long-term stability of the PLA fibers surface properties. These modifications increased the suitability of the material for various applications. The surface of PLA fibers was modified using cold plasma and wet pretreatment with pH solutions of varying degrees. The surface chemical composition and hydrophilicity of modified fibers remained relatively stable for up to 120 days. Conversely, unpretreated fibers reverted to their original chemically inert state after 14 days.