UV Protective Properties of Cotton Fabric Treated with Plasma, UV Absorber, and Reactive Dye

The influence of water vapor plasma on the adsorption of UV absorber during the reactive dyeing of bleached and mercerized cotton fabric was examined. Exhaust dyeing of untreated and plasma-treated cotton was performed using a reactive dye Cibarcon Deep Red S-B and a commercial UV absorber Tinofast CEL. Blank dyeing was performed as a control experiment. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to identify the presence of the UV absorber on the cotton fabric, whereas scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to analyze surface changes of untreated and plasma-treated dyed samples. The CIELAB color values and ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of the samples were determined spectrophotometrically. Wash and light fastness of samples was performed also. The results reveal that the UPF of cotton increases after UV absorber treatment and that plasma treatment increases the adsorption of UV absorber during dyeing process, especially at higher dye concentrations. The enhanced adsorption of UV absorber onto plasma-treated cotton is the result of the increased concentration of oxygen containing functional groups on the cotton surface after plasma treatment, confirmed by XPS. The UPF of plasma-treated cotton samples is decreased after washing and increased after exposure to xenon light.