The Application of Atmospheric Plasma for Cotton Fabric Desizing

Production process of cotton fabric involves numerous water and chemical consumptions, causing serious energy waste and environmental problem. In this study, a waterless atmospheric plasma treatment (APT) was applied on cotton fabric to desize the starch coated in the weaving process. Plasma parameters, i.e., plasma voltage, plasma duty cycle and oxygen flow rate, are varied in order to systematically evaluate their influence on fabric physical properties such as the impurity removal, whiteness, capillary effect, tensile strength and breaking elongation of fabric. Optimal plasma parameters for oxygen APT were determined, with plasma voltage of 320 V, plasma duty cycle of 60 % and oxygen flow rate of 1000 l/h. The APT desizing method attained comparable fabric performances with the traditional amylase desizing method. The results were further supported by the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) investigations.