544
M. Singh et al.
fabrics. Innovation in nano-processing has led to the development of materials which
range from scent producing, colour changing and lightweight bulletproof materials
to textiles with displays (Joshi and Bhattacharyya 2011; Mishra 2014; Rezaei 2016).
With an overview of widespread applications of nanoparticles in the field of surface modification of materials, it is vital to understand the mechanism of adhesion
of these particles on the substrate. The attachment of nanostructures onto the substrate can be physical or chemical. The physical adhesion occurs mostly due to van
der Waals forces or electrostatic forces of attraction between interacting particles
while the chemical adhesion of particles is an outcome of ionic, covalent, metallic
and hydrogen bonds. Apart from physical and chemical adhesion, nanoparticles also
get attached due to mechanical interlocking with the substrate surface wherein they
penetrate deep into certain parts of the substrate like pores, hole or crevices formed
as a result of surface etching or surface roughness effects. The first consequence of
plasma or corona treatment of the fabric is etching or surface cleaning which leads
to an increase in surface roughness and ultimately leads to improved adhesion of
nanostructures on the fabric surface (Gorjanc et al. 2013).
4 Recent Studies on Modification of Textiles by Plasma
and Nanoparticles
In recent times, the use of plasma technology for physicochemical surface modification of textiles has become a fascinating and efficient technique for enhancement
or replacement of conventional wet chemical processing. This approach furnishes
a unique opportunity to modify the surface properties without interfering with the
bulk material to suit the particular end use. With the low cost of operation, rapid
processing and high efficiency, it is an environmentally friendly technique which is
aimed at saving energy and water consumption by textile industries.
4.1 Antimicrobial Finish
Demand for antimicrobial textiles has been on an upsurge in recent years due to public awareness of potential threats and infections (Gorjanc et al. 2010). Generation
of antimicrobial textiles is a necessity for health and hygiene industry along with
prominent importance to sports, military, bedding, childcare and underclothes. Medical textiles such as surgical masks, caps, gowns and bio-implants all need to possess
high antimicrobial efficiency and biodegradability. To render a fabric antimicrobial, a
lot of chemical approaches are used like the use of chemicals like N-halamine, quaternary ammonium salts, nanoparticles of zinc and silver, chitosan nanocomposites and
coating with chemicals to provide oil-repellent finishes (Ili´ c et al. 2009; Primc 2016).
In particular, silver in its ground state (as AgNPs) shows strong bactericidal effects
M. Singh et al.
fabrics. Innovation in nano-processing has led to the development of materials which
range from scent producing, colour changing and lightweight bulletproof materials
to textiles with displays (Joshi and Bhattacharyya 2011; Mishra 2014; Rezaei 2016).
With an overview of widespread applications of nanoparticles in the field of surface modification of materials, it is vital to understand the mechanism of adhesion
of these particles on the substrate. The attachment of nanostructures onto the substrate can be physical or chemical. The physical adhesion occurs mostly due to van
der Waals forces or electrostatic forces of attraction between interacting particles
while the chemical adhesion of particles is an outcome of ionic, covalent, metallic
and hydrogen bonds. Apart from physical and chemical adhesion, nanoparticles also
get attached due to mechanical interlocking with the substrate surface wherein they
penetrate deep into certain parts of the substrate like pores, hole or crevices formed
as a result of surface etching or surface roughness effects. The first consequence of
plasma or corona treatment of the fabric is etching or surface cleaning which leads
to an increase in surface roughness and ultimately leads to improved adhesion of
nanostructures on the fabric surface (Gorjanc et al. 2013).
4 Recent Studies on Modification of Textiles by Plasma
and Nanoparticles
In recent times, the use of plasma technology for physicochemical surface modification of textiles has become a fascinating and efficient technique for enhancement
or replacement of conventional wet chemical processing. This approach furnishes
a unique opportunity to modify the surface properties without interfering with the
bulk material to suit the particular end use. With the low cost of operation, rapid
processing and high efficiency, it is an environmentally friendly technique which is
aimed at saving energy and water consumption by textile industries.
4.1 Antimicrobial Finish
Demand for antimicrobial textiles has been on an upsurge in recent years due to public awareness of potential threats and infections (Gorjanc et al. 2010). Generation
of antimicrobial textiles is a necessity for health and hygiene industry along with
prominent importance to sports, military, bedding, childcare and underclothes. Medical textiles such as surgical masks, caps, gowns and bio-implants all need to possess
high antimicrobial efficiency and biodegradability. To render a fabric antimicrobial, a
lot of chemical approaches are used like the use of chemicals like N-halamine, quaternary ammonium salts, nanoparticles of zinc and silver, chitosan nanocomposites and
coating with chemicals to provide oil-repellent finishes (Ili´ c et al. 2009; Primc 2016).
In particular, silver in its ground state (as AgNPs) shows strong bactericidal effects