Plasma modification natural fibres

Sun, D., and Stylios, G. K. (2005). Investigating the plasma modification of natural fibre fabrics-the effect on fabric surface and mechanical properties, TextRe., 75, 639-644. 

However, lack of good interfacial adhesion, low melting point, and poor resistance towards moisture make the use of natural fibre-reinforced composites less attractive. Pre-treatments of the natural fibre can clean the fibre surface, chemically modify the surface, stop the moisture absorption process and increase the surface roughness. Among the various pre-treatment techniques, graft copolymerization and plasma treatment are the best methods for surface modification of natural fibres. Graft copolymers of natural fibres with vinyl monomers provide better adhesion between matrix and fibre. 

X.J. Dai, L. Kviz, Study of Atmospheric and Low Pressure Plasma Modification on the Surface Properties of Synthetic and Natural Fibres, in An Odyssey in Fibres and Space, Textile Institute 8P World Conference Melbourne, Australia (2001). 

Abstract The use of two environmentally friendly technologies, the plasma and laser approaches, in treating the surface of textiles is discussed in this chapter. The surface of fibrous materials can be functionalized and structured on the nano- and micro-scales, and the results of the treatment of natural and synthetic fibres such as wool, cotton, polypropylene, polyester and polyamide which have been treated by different plasmas and lasers are detailed and are found to be similar to morphological modification of a textile surface using the ripple/roll-structure technique. 

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