Related Experiment Videos
Size removal on polyester fabrics by plasma source ion implantation device
1Division of Environmental Science & Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Anam-dong, Sungbuk-gu, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea.
Chemosphere
|December 6, 2005
Summary
Oxygen plasma treatment offers a cleaner desizing method for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabrics, effectively removing sizing agents and improving subsequent desizing efficiency while reducing effluent pollution.
Area of Science:
- Textile Chemistry
- Surface Science
- Environmental Technology
Background:
- Traditional textile desizing processes often involve harsh chemicals and generate significant pollution.
- Developing eco-friendly and efficient desizing technologies is crucial for sustainable textile manufacturing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate oxygen (O2) plasma treatment as a clean alternative desizing technology for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabrics.
- To assess the efficiency of O2 plasma in removing various sizing agents and its impact on subsequent desizing processes.
Main Methods:
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabrics treated with sizing agents were subjected to O2 plasma treatment.
- Weight loss, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) were used to analyze the removal of sizing agents and surface modifications.
- Plasma-treated and untreated fabrics were then processed through conventional desizing at varying temperatures.
- The environmental impact was assessed by measuring TOC, COD, and BOD values of the desizing effluent.
Main Results:
- O2 plasma treatment effectively removed sizing agents like polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyacrylic acid esters, and their mixtures from PET fabrics, confirmed by weight loss and SEM.
- XPS analysis revealed decreased carbon content and increased oxygen content on the PET surface, indicating successful sizing agent removal and surface functionalization.
- Plasma pre-treatment generally enhanced the efficiency of conventional desizing for most sizing agents, except for PVA.
- Desizing effluent from plasma-treated fabrics exhibited significantly lower TOC, COD, and BOD values.
Conclusions:
- O2 plasma treatment is a viable and clean technology for desizing PET fabrics, offering efficient removal of common sizing agents.
- This plasma-based approach not only improves subsequent desizing performance but also substantially reduces the environmental burden of textile wastewater.
- Further research may focus on optimizing plasma parameters for different fabric types and sizing agents to broaden its industrial application.