Improvement of Serviceability Properties of Synthetic Textile Fabrics using 172 nm Ultraviolet Excimer Lamp

The 172 nm ultraviolet (UV) excimer light was exposed to textile fabrics of acetate, nylon 6, poly (ethylene terephthalate), acrylic and polypropylene. No significant changes in the tensile extension parameters and the surface reflectance of the fabrics due to the UV exposure were observed. The water contact angle was measured by the Wilhelmy technique using a single fiber that was taken from the fabric. Remarkable increase in wettability was accomplished by the UV irradiation of 1 minute. The capillary wetting and the moisture absorption of the fabrics, which were determined electrically, were found to increase by the UV exposure. The effect of the UV exposure on detergency was examined using a poly (ethylene terephthalate) plate on which model particulate soil was deposited. The removal was found to increase after the UV treatment. It was concluded that the exposure of UV excimer light to synthetic textile fabrics made it possible to improve their serviceability properties.