Comparison between laser application and atmospheric air plasma treatment on nanocellulose coating of polyester and nylon 66 fabrics

Synthetic fibers have high hydrophobicity and poor adhesion properties. There are different methods for surface treatment of fibers to improve adhesion properties. In this research, polyester and nylon fabrics were treated by different conditions of surface modification; plasma and laser treatment. Cellulose nano crystal was immobilized on the surface of untreated and treated fabrics by poly ethylene glycol. Surface morphology, FTIR/ATR (Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared), wettability and dyeability of nanocellulose-coated and noncoated samples were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs showed that nanocellulose-treatment on plasma and laser treated polyester and nylon fabrics coated the surface of treated fibers by a layer. This cellulosic layer covered the surface of the fibers as the grooves in ripplelike structure of laser treated fibers were disappeared by this coating. FTIR/ATR analysis of polyester and nylon 66 fibers showed higher amount of coating of nanocellulose on laser treated fabrics as the results showed decreasing in intensity of functional groups related to polyester and nylon on the surface. These results are in agreement with dyeing results of nano cellulose coated and noncoated fabrics which the nanocellulose-coating on laser treated polyester and nylon 66 fabrics showed higher amount of dye absorption. (C) 2014 Laser Institute of America.