Plasma polymerization and its applications in textiles

Abstract

Plasma polymerization enables the deposition of thin coatings on all kinds of substrates using electrical monomer discharges. This paper reviews plasma polymerization processes as surface modification (finishing) for textile applications. The dry and ecofriendly plasma technology aims at replacing wet-chemical process steps and adding new values to textile

products. Characteristics of hydrocarbon, organosilicon, fluorocarbon, hydrophilic functional, monofunctional and ceramic coatings have been discussed to demonstrate their potential for textiles and fibers. Plasma technology requires adequate reactors for the continuous treatment of fabrics and fibers. To enable the optimization of plasma polymerization on batch reactors, questions of up-scaling are addressed to demonstrate the transfer to an industrial level. Both atmospheric and low pressure plasmas are considered regarding their effectiveness and efficiency. Examples for applications in textiles, such as hydrophobic, oleophobic and permanent hydrophilic treatments, have also been reported.