556
M. Singh et al.
they possess poor absorption property which limits their application in the apparel
sector. A study was carried out to check the influence of atmospheric pressure plasma
on silicon nanoemulsions softener on polyester fibre, and it was observed that plasma
treatment escalated the recovery angles. Plasma processing increases the roughness
of the surface which captures more air and water from atmosphere leading to better
moisture absorption and it also generates more polar groups which thereby improves
the hydrophilicity of the sample. Thus, the application of plasma before softener coating increased the penetration of nanoemulsions to the depth hence reduced friction
of fibres and as a result ability of the fabric to recover from deformation improved.
The nanoemulsions silicone softer is hydrophobic in nature. The results indicated a
decrease in moisture regain for plasma pretreated and silicone-coated fabric compared to only nanoemulsions coated fabric. It can be clearly explained as a result of an
increase of hydrophilicity of plasma-treated fabric which facilitated better adhesion
and spreading of nanoemulsions ultimately reducing the moisture absorption by the
surface (Joshi and Bhattacharyya 2011; Parvinzadeh and Ebrahimi 2011).
4.7 Flame-Retardant Textiles
Surface modification by plasma treatment can be significant in synthesising nanoporous structures. Coating by plasma method is considered more durable than spraying methods since the molecules are chemically bonded to the treated substrate.
Functional textiles are the new demand in recent times in the textile industry and
the demand for flame-retardant textiles is particularly in firefighter clothes, upholstery, military garments and work clothing. Raslan et al. studied the effect of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma treatment after the deposition of fire-resistant
aluminium oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) nanopowder on polyester fabric to measure the flameretardant capability of the treated fabric. SEM images showed a clear deposition of
Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles in the cracks and pores resulted from plasma treatment on the
fibre surface. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) values exhibited an increase in
the start of degradation temperature from 291.58 °C of untreated sample to 320.96 °C
of nanocoated and plasma-modified sample. Furthermore, the flame retardancy test
results completely correlated with TGA analysis and showed an increase in burning
time from 39 s for untreated samples to 50 s for plasma-treated sample and at the
same time a decrease in burning rate from 230 mm/min to 180 mm/min for the sample samples. These results indicated that the thermal stability of the fabric increased
after nanocoating followed by plasma surface modification (Raslan et al. 2011).
5 Conclusion and Future Trend
In recent times, the use of plasma technology for physicochemical surface modification of textiles has become a fascinating and efficient technique for enhancement or
M. Singh et al.
they possess poor absorption property which limits their application in the apparel
sector. A study was carried out to check the influence of atmospheric pressure plasma
on silicon nanoemulsions softener on polyester fibre, and it was observed that plasma
treatment escalated the recovery angles. Plasma processing increases the roughness
of the surface which captures more air and water from atmosphere leading to better
moisture absorption and it also generates more polar groups which thereby improves
the hydrophilicity of the sample. Thus, the application of plasma before softener coating increased the penetration of nanoemulsions to the depth hence reduced friction
of fibres and as a result ability of the fabric to recover from deformation improved.
The nanoemulsions silicone softer is hydrophobic in nature. The results indicated a
decrease in moisture regain for plasma pretreated and silicone-coated fabric compared to only nanoemulsions coated fabric. It can be clearly explained as a result of an
increase of hydrophilicity of plasma-treated fabric which facilitated better adhesion
and spreading of nanoemulsions ultimately reducing the moisture absorption by the
surface (Joshi and Bhattacharyya 2011; Parvinzadeh and Ebrahimi 2011).
4.7 Flame-Retardant Textiles
Surface modification by plasma treatment can be significant in synthesising nanoporous structures. Coating by plasma method is considered more durable than spraying methods since the molecules are chemically bonded to the treated substrate.
Functional textiles are the new demand in recent times in the textile industry and
the demand for flame-retardant textiles is particularly in firefighter clothes, upholstery, military garments and work clothing. Raslan et al. studied the effect of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma treatment after the deposition of fire-resistant
aluminium oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) nanopowder on polyester fabric to measure the flameretardant capability of the treated fabric. SEM images showed a clear deposition of
Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles in the cracks and pores resulted from plasma treatment on the
fibre surface. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) values exhibited an increase in
the start of degradation temperature from 291.58 °C of untreated sample to 320.96 °C
of nanocoated and plasma-modified sample. Furthermore, the flame retardancy test
results completely correlated with TGA analysis and showed an increase in burning
time from 39 s for untreated samples to 50 s for plasma-treated sample and at the
same time a decrease in burning rate from 230 mm/min to 180 mm/min for the sample samples. These results indicated that the thermal stability of the fabric increased
after nanocoating followed by plasma surface modification (Raslan et al. 2011).
5 Conclusion and Future Trend
In recent times, the use of plasma technology for physicochemical surface modification of textiles has become a fascinating and efficient technique for enhancement or