Abstract:

Helium plasma inducing graft polymerization of 1, 3, 5, 7-Tetravinyl-1, 3, 5, 7-tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4Vi) was investigated on cotton fabrics to prepare hydrophobic materials. The effects of plasma treatment parameters, such as RF power, treatment pressure and time on the graft ratio were investigated. Moreover, morphological, structural and hydrophobic properties of cotton before and after plasma treatment were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and water contact angle analysis respectively. The results showed that the treated cotton fibers were coated by uniform, dense films which perform and cotton fabric presents an excellent hydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 150° under a load pressure of 20Pa, RF power of 80W and time of 2min. Infrared and XPS spectra indicated that after initiation by the He plasma, the surface of cotton fabrics introduced new Si-O bonds and Si element.