Plasma based polydimethylsiloxane coating on fabric for improved wettability

This study explores the impact of Plasma treatment with Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) on the wettability properties of polyester and cotton fabrics. The fabrics were treated using two different plasma setups: Thermal Plasma (Plasma torch), and non-thermal (Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD)) plasma for durations of 10 and 20 min. Morphological and elemental analyses were performed using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) respectively. FESEM micrographs reveal that thermal plasma treatment increases surface roughness of cotton fabric, reducing the fiber gap and trapping air, which contributes to hydrophobicity. On polyester, DBD plasma treatment increases the surface roughness and fiber gap, enhancing hydrophilicity. EDX analysis depicts the presence of C, Si, and O on the fabric surfaces. AT-FTIR analysis of the treated cotton fabric revealed CO and Si-CH 3 functional groups, contributing to enhanced hydrophobicity. Conversely, the presence of C = O, C-O, and Si-O bonds in the polyester fabric led to increased hydrophilicity. Water contact angle (WCA) measurements showed that thermal plasma treatment significantly improved the hydrophobicity of cotton after 10 min, while DBD plasma treatment enhanced the superhydrophilicity of polyester after 20 min. The primary purpose of this study is to perform a comparative analysis of two different fabrics (cotton and polyester) using two distinct plasma setups. The research aims to enhance hydrophobicity in naturally hydrophilic cotton and improve hydrophilicity in inherently hydrophobic polyester. The analysis of these plasma treatments highlights their efficiency in modifying surface properties for advanced applications, such as outdoor gear, medical textiles, and filtration systems.