The Influence of Water Vapor Plasma Treatment on Specific Properties of Bleached and Mercerized Cotton Fabric

Abstract

The influence of water vapor plasma on chemical, morphological and mechanical properties of bleached and mercerized cotton fabric was studied. Reactive exhaust dyeing was used for loading of nano silver. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy results show that plasma treatment enhanced nano silver adhesion to the fabric, which also contributed to antimicrobial effectiveness to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. Surface changes of plasma treated cotton were observed with scanning electron microscopy. Xray photoelectron spectroscopy results show the decrease of C—C bonds in favor of C—O, O—C—O, C=O, and O=C—O bonds and higher O/C atomic ratio in plasma treated fibers. Mechanical properties of cotton yarn after plasma treatment remained unchanged.