Advances in CO₂ Laser Treatment of Cotton-Based Textiles: Processing Science and Functional Applications.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Textile Engineering
• Surface Chemistry

Background:

• Conventional textile finishing relies heavily on water and chemicals, posing environmental challenges.
• CO2 laser processing presents a novel dry-finishing alternative for cellulose-based textiles.
• Understanding the mechanisms of laser-induced modification is crucial for sustainable textile production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the mechanistic pathways of CO2 laser processing on cotton and denim.
• To consolidate knowledge on processing windows and functional potential.
• To identify research gaps for scalable and sustainable laser-based textile technologies.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of photothermal heating effects on cellulose.
• Investigation of dye decomposition, surface oxidation, and ablation mechanisms.
• Correlation of laser fluence with resulting chemical and morphological changes.

Main Results:

• CO2 lasers induce controlled color fading, surface oxidation, and micro-ablation.
• Low fluence leads to uniform fading via dye fragmentation and oxidation.
• Moderate and high fluences create functional surface chemistry and topography for enhanced adhesion.

Conclusions:

• CO2 laser processing is an efficient, eco-friendly alternative to wet textile finishing.
• It enables predictable modifications of cotton fabric properties.
• Further research is needed to standardize parameters and assess long-term stability for industrial adoption.