Improvement in surface hydrophilicity and resistance to deformation of natural leather through O2/H2O low-temperature plasma treatment

The natural leather was modified through O-2/H2O low-temperature plasma treatment. Surface morphology was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the results showed that the pores on the leather surface became deeper and larger with enhanced permeability of water and vapor. XPS and FTIR-ATR was performed to determine the chemical composition of natural leather surface. Oxygencontaining groups were successfully grafted onto the surface of natural leather and oxygen content increased with longer treatment time. After O-2/H2O plasma treatment, initial water contact angle was about 21 and water contact angles were not beyond 55 after being stored for 3 days. Furthermore, the tensile test indicated that the resistance to deformation had a prominent transform without sacrificing the tensile strength. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.