Effect of atmospheric plasma process on the water-repellent finishingperformance and permanence

This study aims to investigate the effect of atmospheric plasma treatment on the performance and permanence of water repellency finish. Air and nitrogen plasma treatments were applied to pre-treated polyester-based fabrics prepared for dyeing. Fluorocarbon solutions, with and without cross-linkers, were applied to the fabrics using the pad-dry-cure method. Contact angle measurements, FT-IR analysis, SEM analysis, and whiteness measurements were conducted. The samples underwent repeated washing 10 times, and measurements were retaken. The contact angle values of fabrics with plasma pre-treatment and water-repellent properties, using only fluorocarbon, were better than those of fabrics with water-repellent properties using cross-linker and fluorocarbon. The contact angle values obtained 20 seconds after the drop was placed on the fabric were very close for both samples. Similar permanence properties were obtained after repeated washings when atmospheric plasma pre-treatment was used instead of the cross-linking chemical used to ensure the permanence of the water-repellent finishing.