Application of atmospheric pressure plasma polymerization for soil guard finishing of textiles

Surface coating by atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) polymerization was employed to achieve soil guard protection of textiles. Hexamethyldisiloxane was chosen as a precursor for depositing silicon oxide layers on the fiber surface. Plain-woven polyester and rayon filament fabrics and a geometrically simple poly (ethylene terephthalate) film were used as substrates, which were treated by the APPJ polymerization and by the commonly used two fluorochemical resins for comparison. The samples subjected to the APPJ polymerization showed superior water repellency as compared to the resin-treated samples. Interestingly, the APPJ polymerization provided oleophobicity to diiodomethane and oleophilicity to hexadecane. The deposition of model particulate soils, carbon black and red clay, on the fabrics and the film was evaluated by the surface reflectance method and by microscope image analysis, respectively. It was found that the APPJ polymerization remarkably prevented soil deposition as compared to the treatment with two fluorochemical resins. Contrary to our expectations, the APPJ polymerization did not significantly affect the removal of the particulate soils from the substrates by aqueous cleaning.