Effect of process variables on surface properties of low-pressure plasma treated polypropylene fibers

Plasma surface treatment has been extensively applied in the textile industry for the modification of polymer materials. In this study, polypropylene (PP) fibers in the form of a nonwoven web were treated with low-pressure plasma (air, N2, Ar) for different treatment time (5–40 min). Powers varied from (50–500 W). Surface properties were studied by measuring wetting time and hydrophilisation diameters after an exposure time of 20 seconds. This study showed that the best conditions for the surface modification of nonwoven PP, with low pressure plasma were a power of 500 W and a treatment time of 30 minutes. Ageing has some effect on the wettability of treated samples.