Surface modification of non-woven polypropylene by plasma pre-treatment to enhance dye ability

Plasma treatment is an important technique to improve the dyeing ability of textile fabric. In this work, the effect of plasma treatment on dyeability of polypropylene (PP) fabric was investigated. Polypropylene nonwoven fabric was activated by plasma treatment using Argon, Nitrogen and Oxygen gases. Surface properties of the activated non-woven fabric was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR), contact angle measurement and dyeability. Water absorbency and dyeability properties of treated non-woven fabric was improved. The results showed that plasma activation in Argon plasma gas was more efficient than in Nitrogen and Oxygen. It has been confirmed that plasma treatment enhances hydrophilicity of PP fabric due to surface modification of the material and formation of C-O, C=O and COOH groups. Increased hydrophilicity of PP induced only slightly increased color intensity (K/S).