ABSTRACT

In recent years, the use of plasma techniques has emerged as a promising approach for improving the surface properties of natural materials. This study investigates the effects of low-pressure direct current (DC) air plasma treatment on wool textiles under different exposure times. Key surface properties, including contact angle, work of adhesion, surface energy and absorption, were measured and found to improve with increased treatment duration. The water contact angle of untreated wool decreased by 47.5% after 1 h, while reductions of 48.11%, 57.78%, 74.24% and 100% were observed for samples treated for 0.5 min, 1 min, 2 min and 3 min, respectively. Notably, the plasma treatment had minimal impact on the tensile strength and shrinkage of the wool. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed changes in surface morphology, including degreasing, increased porosity and structural alterations. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis indicated no significant differences in the functional groups of the treated wool, while DSC curves showed overlapping denaturation enthalpy peaks, suggesting negligible changes in fibre crystallinity. Overall, the plasma treatment enhanced the wettability of wool fabrics, offering an effective method for surface modification.

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