Eco-friendly plasma treatment of linen-containing fabrics

In the present work, linen-containing fabrics were treated with atmospheric pressure plasmas of oxygen, air and nitrogen, and the impact of plasma treatment conditions on the surface chemistry and topography was evaluated. Plasma treatment is accompanied by a remarkable improvement in the hydrophilic properties: creation of new functional groups along with a noticeable increase in the affinity of treated substrates for subsequent H2O2-bleaching. The extent of improvement in wettability as well as subsequent bleachability is governed by both the plasma gas, i.e. oxygen air nitrogen none, and the discharge power, i.e. the higher the power supply, the shorter and greater was the modification extent. Oxygen or air plasma treatment significantly upgrades the hydrophilicity, enhances the subsequent bleachability, saves time, water and energy as well as prevents or decreases pollution at the source, i.e. an eco-friendly substitute for conventional scouring of linen-based textiles.