Hydrophilization of polypropylene nonwoven fabric using surface barrier discharge

Surface dielectric barrier discharges (SDBD), which find widespread industrial applications in ozone production, were used to hydrophilize light-weight polypropylene nonwoven fabric (PPNF) samples. The samples were treated in nitrogen plasma generated by SDBD at atmospheric pressure. The hydrophilicity of the samples was examined as a function of the storage time using a standard strike-through test. The surface chemical composition was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Because of very short treatment times obtained (∼1 s) and its simplicity the method has the potential to be used in-line with standard high-speed PPNF production lines, laminating, printing and metal plating lines, etc.