Plasma oxidation, fibers, surface properties

Plasma oxidation of fibers is an example of a treatment aimed at chemically modifying the surface to improve a surface property. These treatments have wide application in industry and are used to improve wettability and printability of plastics, the adhesion of materials to surfaces including tissue culture cells, and a variety of other applications (36). 

Oxidation of the surface of wool fibers is known to reduce felting shrinkage as well as improve other properties of wool fibers (37) Oxidation may be proformed or effected in a number of ways including gas phase plasma treatment (38). 

Modification of lignocellulosic materials surface by copolymerization with vinyl monomers has been reported. The polymerization reaction is initiated at the surface of the fibers by incorporation of peroxides or oxidation-reduction agents, or by treatment with gamma radiation or cold plasma [49]. These reactions form free radicals on the fibers, which initiates the free chain reaction with the vinyl monomers. Different types of properties can be conferred to the fibers using different vinyl monomers, such as increased hydrophilicity with poly(vinyl alcohol), increased hydrophobicity with polystyrene or polyvinylacetate, increased reactivity with polyvinylamine etc. 

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