Plasma Treatment for Preparing Durable Water Repellent and Anti-Stain Synthetic Fabrics for Automotive Applications

Nicoletta De Vietro^1*, Luca Belforte², Vito Lambertini², Bartolomeo Placenza², Francesco Fracassi¹

¹Department of Chemistry, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
²Centro Ricerche FIAT (CRF) S.C.p.A., Torino, Italy.

DOI: 10.4236/jsemat.2015.53012                

Abstract

This paper describes the development of a plasma process to produce a durable water repellent and anti-stain thin film on synthetic textile, utilized for the upholstery in the automotive field. The coatings were deposited in non equilibrium low pressure plasmas fed with 1H, 1H, 2H-perfluo-ro- 1-decene employing, as substrates, polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate thermo-coupled to polyurethane foam. It was found that the XPS F/C ratio of the deposit was higher than 1.4 and that the treated textile was always very hydrophobic (WCA > 140?) and oil resistant (motor oil CA > 110?), even after wear.

Keywords

Synthetic Textile, Automotive, Durable Water Repellent and Anti-Stain Character, Low Pressure Plasma, Fluorinated Coating

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Chan, C.-M. (1994) Polymer Surface Modification and Characterization. Hanser Publishers, Munich.
[2]	Vohrer, U., Muller, M. and Oehr, C. (1998) Glow-Discharge Treatment for the Modification of Textiles. Surface and Coatings Technology, 98, 1128-1131.
[3]	Hesse, A., Thomas, H., Hocker, H. and Zero, A.O.X. (1995) Shrink Proofing Treatment for Wool Top and Fabric: Part I: Glow Discharge Treatment. Textile Research Journal, 65, 355-361.
[4]	Zhang, W., Luo, Y., Wang, H., Jiang, J., Pu, S. and Chu, P.K. (2008) Ag and Ag/N2 Plasma Modification of Polyethylene for the Enhancement of Antibacterial Properties and Cell Growth/Proliferation. Acta Biomaterialia, 4, 2028-2036.
[5]	Tsafack, M.J. and Levallois-Grutzmacher, J. (2006) Flame Retardancy of Cotton Textiles by Plasma-Induced Graft- Polymerization (PIGP). Surface and Coatings Technology, 201, 2599-2610.
[6]	Hossain, M.M., Herrmann, A.S. and Hegemann, D. (2006) Plasma Hydrophilization Effect on Different Textile Structures. Textile Research Journal, 65, 299-307.
[7]	Poll, H.U., Schladitz, U. and Schreiter, S. (2001) Penetration of Plasma Effects into Textile Structures. Surface and Coatings Technology, 142-144, 489-493.
[8]	Yip, J., Chan, K., Sin, K.M. and Lau, K.S. (2002) Low Temperature Plasma-Treated Nylon Fabrics. Journal of Materials Processing Technology, 123, 5-12.
[9]	N.N. ITB Veredlung (1995) 22-24.
[10]	Sigurdsson, S. and Shishoo, R. (1997) Surface Properties of Polymers Treated with Tetrafluoromethane Plasma. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 66, 1591-1601.
[11]	Hodak, S.K., Supasai, T., Paosawatyanyong, B., Kamlangkla, K. and Pavarajarn, V. (2008) Enhancement of the Hydrophobicity of Silk Fabrics by SF6 Plasma. Applied Surface Science, 254, 4744-4749.
[12]	Sun, D. and Stylios, G.K. (2006) Fabric Surface Properties Affected by Low Temperature Plasma Treatment. Journal of Materials Processing Technology, 173, 172-177.
[13]	Li, S. and Jinj, D. (2007) Improvement of Hydrophobic Properties of Silk and Cotton by Hexafluoropropene Plasma Treatment. Applied Surface Science, 253, 5051-5055.