Argon Plasma in a New Process for Improving the Physical and Anti-bacterial Properties of Crosslinked Cotton Cellulose with Dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea-Maleic Acid

This study reports the findings of an argon (Ar) plasma treatment added to the traditional pad-dry-cure process between dry and cure treatments. This new process is called the "paddry-plasma-cure process". The cross/inking agent was a mixture of dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) and maleic acid (MA). Results show that Ar plasma treatment can increase the bonded cross/inking agent (i.e., the nitrogen content). The dry crease recovery angle (DCRA), wet crease recovery angle (WCRA), and tensile strength retention (TSR) of the pad-dry-plasma-cure finished fabrics were higher than those of traditional pad-dry-cure finished fabrics at a given nitrogen content. Additionally it was found that the number of cross/inks per anhydroglucose unit (CL/AGU) and the length of cross/inks of pad-dry-plasma-cure-finished fabrics were higher than that of traditional pad-dry-cure finished fabrics at the same resin concentration in the pad bath. DCRA, WCRA and TSR values of pad-thy-plasma-cure-finished fabrics were higher than those of pad-dry-cure-finished fabrics at the same CL/AGU value. However, activation energies for the pad-dry-plasma-cure process were higher than those for the pad-dry-cure process. The anti-bacterial ability and odour absorption of the pad-dry-plasma-cure and pad-dry-plasma-cure finished fabrics were higher than those for the pad-dry-cure finished fabrics. The surface distribution of cross/inking agents for the pad-dry-plasma-cure process was higher than that of the pad-dry-cure process. Thus the pad-dry-plasma-cure process is excellent for improving the physical properties, bacterial inhibition, and odour absorption of finished cotton fabrics and for decreasing their formaldehyde release.