280
N. A. Ibrahim and B. M. Eid
technologies available, atmospheric pressure cold plasma-surface modification is
now a first priority for imparting specific desired functionalities to the treated textile
materials and prove to be an eco-friendly, economical and effective process to replace
or enhance the conventional wet-chemical processing, i.e. pretreatment, coloration
and finishing of cellulosic substrates, as well as to meet the increasing needs of textile
industry for fast, consistent and low footprint production processes [9, 21, 27].
On the other hand, the extent of modification of chemical, physical and structural
surface properties of the treated substrate, taking in consideration both the process
evenness and treatment effectiveness is affected by device parameters, plasma gas,
treatment time, plasma density and energy as well as type and structure of the textile
material [28–30]. Moreover, treatment parameters must be optimized to achieve the
desirable surface modification and functionalization for specific applications without
adversely affecting the performance and bulk properties.
Cold-plasma treatment can be used as an effective technique for: surface cleaning,
surface activation and functionalization, improving adhesion to ensure effective coating, enabling graft-copolymerization/in situ deposition, and imparting hydrophilicity
or hydrophobicity, to the treated textile materials [9, 21, 31, 32].
Creation of reactive sites and functional groups at plasma treated substrates is
governed by the nature of gas plasma, i.e. polymerising and non-polymerising gas
plasma. Only cold plasma either at atmospheric or at low pressure, is proper for
surface treatment of heat sensitive textiles [32]. Tables 1, 2 and 3 demonstrate a
vast range of some potential applications of non-polymerizing and polymerizing gas
plasma for surface modification and functionalization of the cellulosic substrates as
well as for imparting the specific and desirable value-added functional properties [9,
20].
4 Future Trends
Recently, potential applications of non-thermal atmospheric plasmas, as an emerging,
green, water-free and surface modification technologies, for achieving eco-friendly
textile process and products and for developing innovative, multifunctional, performance enhanced/value added cellulosic textile materials have been attracted a great
deal of attraction. Replacement of conventional wet-chemical processing with plasma
treatments will offer a great promise to develop unique properties, to impart innovative functional and to achieve economic savings and environmental protection. Full
industrial exploitation and application of proper plasmas will help to develop sustainable textile process and products, taking in consideration environmental/economic
concerns and social responsibility, and will continue in the near future. Moreover, the co-application of emerging technologies such as plasma/nanotechnology,
plasma/biotechnology … etc. in the textile industry will offer eco-friendly solutions to impart new functionalities to textile materials and develop environmentally
benign products taking in consideration economic concerns, market demands and
environment aspects.
N. A. Ibrahim and B. M. Eid
technologies available, atmospheric pressure cold plasma-surface modification is
now a first priority for imparting specific desired functionalities to the treated textile
materials and prove to be an eco-friendly, economical and effective process to replace
or enhance the conventional wet-chemical processing, i.e. pretreatment, coloration
and finishing of cellulosic substrates, as well as to meet the increasing needs of textile
industry for fast, consistent and low footprint production processes [9, 21, 27].
On the other hand, the extent of modification of chemical, physical and structural
surface properties of the treated substrate, taking in consideration both the process
evenness and treatment effectiveness is affected by device parameters, plasma gas,
treatment time, plasma density and energy as well as type and structure of the textile
material [28–30]. Moreover, treatment parameters must be optimized to achieve the
desirable surface modification and functionalization for specific applications without
adversely affecting the performance and bulk properties.
Cold-plasma treatment can be used as an effective technique for: surface cleaning,
surface activation and functionalization, improving adhesion to ensure effective coating, enabling graft-copolymerization/in situ deposition, and imparting hydrophilicity
or hydrophobicity, to the treated textile materials [9, 21, 31, 32].
Creation of reactive sites and functional groups at plasma treated substrates is
governed by the nature of gas plasma, i.e. polymerising and non-polymerising gas
plasma. Only cold plasma either at atmospheric or at low pressure, is proper for
surface treatment of heat sensitive textiles [32]. Tables 1, 2 and 3 demonstrate a
vast range of some potential applications of non-polymerizing and polymerizing gas
plasma for surface modification and functionalization of the cellulosic substrates as
well as for imparting the specific and desirable value-added functional properties [9,
20].
4 Future Trends
Recently, potential applications of non-thermal atmospheric plasmas, as an emerging,
green, water-free and surface modification technologies, for achieving eco-friendly
textile process and products and for developing innovative, multifunctional, performance enhanced/value added cellulosic textile materials have been attracted a great
deal of attraction. Replacement of conventional wet-chemical processing with plasma
treatments will offer a great promise to develop unique properties, to impart innovative functional and to achieve economic savings and environmental protection. Full
industrial exploitation and application of proper plasmas will help to develop sustainable textile process and products, taking in consideration environmental/economic
concerns and social responsibility, and will continue in the near future. Moreover, the co-application of emerging technologies such as plasma/nanotechnology,
plasma/biotechnology … etc. in the textile industry will offer eco-friendly solutions to impart new functionalities to textile materials and develop environmentally
benign products taking in consideration economic concerns, market demands and
environment aspects.