Plasma functionalization of textiles: Specifics and possibilities

Guimond, Sebastien; Hanselmann, Barbara; Amberg, Martin; Hegemann, Dirk

doi:10.1351/PAC-CON-09-10-38

Pure Appl. Chem., 2010, Vol. 82, No. 6, pp. 1239-1245

http://dx.doi.org/10.1351/PAC-CON-09-10-38

Published online 2010-04-20

Plasma functionalization of textiles: Specifics and possibilities

Sebastien Guimond*, Barbara Hanselmann, Martin Amberg and Dirk Hegemann

Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research, Lerchefenldstrasse 5, St. Gallen, Switzerland

Abstract: Plasma technology offers many interesting possibilities for the production of high-value-added textiles. Nevertheless, textiles can have a considerable structural and chemical complexity, and their properties must be taken into account for the implementation of plasma processes. The influences of some of these properties are highlighted through several examples of recent interesting applications, such as the metallization of polyester yarns, the enhancement of fabric moisture wicking and the surface functionalization with plasma polymerization.