Improving Properties of Polyester and Cellulose Acetate Fabrics using Laser Irradiation

Polyester (PET) and Cellulose Acetate (CA) fabrics were modified by excimer laser irradiation. The induced surface changes were characterized by Scaning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The effect of laser treatment conditions such as power and time of irradiation on the dyeing behaviour of both polyester and cellulose acetate fabrics was studied. A greater depth of shade was achieved on laser treated fabrics compared to the untreated fabric dyed with disperse dye upon the same dyeing conditions. Fabric  wettability, surface roughness and fastness properties were also given. Microscopic analysis of the cross section of the dyed samples showed deeper penetration of dye molecules inside the interior structure of cellulose acetate fabric. The depth of disperse dye into CA fibers increased from 20.2% for untreated sample to 43.9% for treated one that may help to overcome the ring dyeing problem. Also, laser treatment of cellulose acetate was more effective in enhancing its dyeability with disperse dye than ultrasonic dyeing technique under the same dyeing conditions.