The growing global emphasis on clean production has also heightened the importance of alternative, eco-friendly technologies in the textile industry. These new technologies are expected to eliminate the drawbacks encountered during production with conventional methods while enabling innovative manufacturing.
Plasma is defined as the fourth state of matter, consisting of atoms, molecules, ions, electrons, free radicals, and photons in an excited gas state. Plasmas can be classified based on their production methods or the properties of the gas used to generate them. They are called hot or cold plasma based on their temperatures, and atmospheric or vacuum plasma based on their pressures. Primarily, they are divided into three groups: glow discharge, corona discharge, and dielectric barrier discharge.
Textile materials treated with plasma see increases in hydrophilicity, cleanliness, degree of sterilization, surface energy, and coefficient of friction. Moreover, by using suitable monomers, surfaces can be coated with thin film layers, granting the textiles properties such as water/oil/dirt repellency, flame resistance, or antibacterial characteristics.
The main advantages of using plasma technology include:
- No need for water during the process
- Minimal chemical requirements
- Short processing time
- Low waste rates
- Minimal mechanical impact on the textile material
Using plasma technology in the dyeing of textile materials results in shorter dyeing times, lower temperatures, improved dye uptake for hydrophilic dyes, accelerated dye absorption, and enhanced color yield.
The widespread adoption of plasma technology in the textile industry will enable the production of high-value fabrics with functional features, while also saving time and energy.
