Abstract:

The purpose of this work was to study the effects of low-pressure oxygen plasma treatment on the surface characteristics of kevlar fabric. For comparison purposes, samples treated with oxygenated plasma were prepared and characterised under different experimental conditions, i.e. a treatment time variation of 10, 30 and 60 minutes under a constant pressure of 4 mBar, using a pulsed current source. We analysed the effects of chemical and physical changes to the surface of the material aiming at improved hydrophilicity attributed to the formation of roughness on the surface of fibres, thus obtaining optimal parameters for future works. Changes in the chemical composition of the surface as well as in the superficial roughness of fibres before and after treatment were determined by FTIR, TGA, XRD and wettability testing. SEM was used as a complementary technique to monitor the changes triggered by the procedures using oxygen plasma.