Influence of Aramid Fiber Moisture Regain during Atmospheric Ppressure Plasma Processing on the Surface Properties of the Modified Fibers

摘要

This paper investigates how amount of moisture absorbed by aramid fibers during the atmospheric pressure plasma treatment influences the surface properties of the modified fiber surfaces. Kevlar 49 fibers with different moisture regains (0.5%,3.5% and 5.5% respectively) were treated with atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) with helium as the carrier gas and oxygen as the treatment gas. Surface morphology, free radicals, wettability and chemical compositions were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), electron spin resonance (ESR), water contact angle measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was shown that after the plasma treatment, the amount of surface flee radicals and oxygen concentration were higher, while the water contact angles were smaller for the groups with higher moisture regain than those of the lower moisture regain group.