Study of the wettability properties of polypropylene nonwoven mats by low-pressure oxygen plasma treatment

Surface modification by plasma treatment is widely used for textiles and polymeric materials. Plasma processes are environmentally friendly and reduce chemicals and energy consumption. This study reports the effect of cold, low-pressure oxygen plasma on the wettability properties of polypropylene (PP) nonwoven mats. The wetting properties were examined using contact angle, surface energy, and diameters of the drop after 20 s of treatment. It was found that plasma treatment had a significant effect on the wettability of PP fibers. The ageing for 90 days had no significant effect on the wettability. It was also shown that the morphology of the fibers was not affected by the plasma treatment. Copyright (c) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.