Aluminum coatings on cotton fabrics with low temperature plasma of argon and oxygen

In this article, we have studied the properties (especially water repellency) of cotton coated by a thin layer of aluminum. The process has been performed in a low temperature plasma medium, using a magnetron sputtering device. We have also investigated the effect of different gases such as argon and oxygen as the discharge medium on the properties of the obtained samples. The results which are exposure time dependent show a good repellent property for 30 min of treating in argon medium under the condition of our experiment. However, when O-2 is used in the system, the cotton property changes to become hydrophilic of which the factor decreases as we increase the time of treating. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.