Study of plasma polymerization of dichloromethane on cotton and polyester fabrics

Dichloromethane (DCM) was polymerized on cotton and polyester fabrics in nonequilibrium low-temperature plasma for different durations and the effects obtained were discussed. The modified cotton and polyester fabrics were dyed with Reactive Red HE 8BI and C.I. Disperse Red 364 dyes, respectively. The relative color strength of polymerized dyed fabrics was measured and compared with that of untreated dyed fabrics. The color parameters of polymerized fabrics were evaluated by the CIE system of color measurement, with standard illuminant D65 and 10degrees standard observer, by a Dataflash 100 color measurement spectrophotometer equipped with Colortools QC 1.3 color quality control software. The chemical structures of untreated and polymerized fabrics were studied by attenuated total reflectance-infrared spectroscopy. The presence of free radicals, attributed to the polymerization, was measured by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.