Seiji Tokino

Surface Characteristics of Wool and Poly ( ethylene Terephthalate) Fabrics and Film Treated with Low-Temperature Plasma Under Atmospheric Pressure

Wool and poly ( ethylene terephthalate) fabrics and film were treated with low-tem perature plasmas of helium/argon or acetone/argon under atmospheric pressure for 10 to 180 seconds. Although argon itself cannot independently generate a plasma under atmospheric pressure by applying high frequency voltage, it is easily generated by adding a small quantity of helium or acetone to argon gas. Wettability of the fabrics and surface tension of the film increased considerably with the treatment within 30 seconds. ESCA analysis was used to elucidate the surface chemical composition of fibers treated with atmospheric low-temperature plasma. Relative O1 s intensity in creased considerably and oxygen was incorporated in the form of —CO— and —COO— on the fiber surface. From these results, it appears that low-temperature plasma by atmospheric pressure discharge is effective for modifying the polymer surface, as it acts in the same fashion as low-temperature plasma by glow discharge.

Effect of Low Temperature Plasma Treatment on Color of Wool and Nylon 6 Fabrics Dyed with Natural Dyes

In a previous article, we reported that oxygen low temperature plasma treatment of wool fibers increases both the dyeing rate and saturation dye exhaustion of acid dyes, despite increased electronegativity of the fiber surface with the treatment. In this article, wool and nylon 6 fabrics treated with oxygen, carbon tetrafluoride, and ammonia low temperature plasmas are dyed with several natural dyes, such as cochineal, Chinese cork tree, madder, and gromwell. The dyeing rate of the plasma-treated wool increases con siderably with cochineal, Chinese cork tree, and madder, but not with gromwell. How ever, the dyeing rate of nylon 6 with cochineal and Chinese cork tree is not changed by the plasma pretreatment. Furthermore, plasma-treated wool fabrics dyed with cochineal and Chinese cork tree have increased brightness compared with untreated wool.

Dyeing Properties of Wool Treated with Low-Temperature Plasma Under Atmospheric Pressure

Merino wool top was treated with low-temperature plasmas of helium/ argon and acetone/argon under atmospheric pressure for 30 seconds and then dyed with two leveling-type acid dyes, CI acid orange 7 and CI acid red 18, and two milling-type acid dyes, CI acid blue 113 and CI acid blue 83. Dyeing rate and saturation dye exhaustion increased with the atmospheric low-temperature plasma treatments as with the dyeing of wools pretreated with low-temperature plasma by glow discharge of O2 and CF4. In particular, helium/ argon plasma was much more effective than acetone / argon plasma at improving dyeing properties, except for CI acid blue 113.

Effect of Crosslinking Agents on Water Repellency of Cotton Fabrics Treated with Fluorocarbon Resin

Cotton fabrics and cellulose films treated with fluorocarbon resin (Asahi Guard AG-480 ) with and without crosslinking agents (isocyanate blocked copolymer and aziridine) were washed and subsequently heat treated. Water repellency of the fabrics decreased with washing and recovered with heat treatment. The decreased water re pellency with washing was controlled by using the resin with a crosslinking agent. To investigate surface tension and surface chemical composition of the fabrics after washing and subsequent heat treatment, the contact angle to water and critical surface tension of the films were measured along with an ESCA analysis of the fabrics. Adding cross linking agents to the fluorocarbon resin treatment controlled the decrease in F1s intensity and the increase in O1s intensity with subsequent washing.

Functionalization of Textile Product with Aerosol Spray

近年、機能性繊維素材・製品の開発が盛んに行われてい る。紫外線遮蔽、軽量保温、吸湿、吸水・速乾、温感、涼 感、難燃・防炎、帯電防止、抗菌防臭、制菌、消臭などさ まざまな機能性繊維製品が市場に存在する。 機能性繊維製品は、製造方法から大きく下記のように分 類される。 1)ポリマー改質、ポリマーへの添加、複合紡糸など繊維 素材製造段階で機能性が設計されたもの 2)染色・仕上加工工程で行われ、洗濯などに対する耐久 性を向上させる反応性樹脂や架橋剤などによって繊維 に機能性剤を固着することにより機能性が付与された もの 既存の機能性繊維製品で、特に後者に相当するものは機 能の洗濯耐久性が重視されている。その効果は、製品ごと に製造時に付与された機能に限定され、消費開始時を最大 として劣化する可能性を有している。 このような状況の中、スプレー技術、特にエアゾール製 品の特徴を活用し、一般の繊維製品製造技術とは異なった 視点から、繊維製品を機能化する手法およびその製品化が 行われている。 本稿では、繊維製品を機能化するエアゾール製剤につい て、一般の染色・仕上加工工程で行われる機能加工との比 較を含めながら解説する。