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Polysiloxane Softener Coatings on Plasma‐Treated Wool: Study of the Surface Interactions
Author(s) -
Canal Cristina,
Molina Ricardo,
Bertran Enric,
Erra Pilar
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
macromolecular materials and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1439-2054
pISSN - 1438-7492
DOI - 10.1002/mame.200700023
Subject(s) - materials science , wool , contact angle , shrinkage , composite material , resist , drop (telecommunication) , layer (electronics) , telecommunications , computer science
Low temperature plasma (LTP) improves the shrink‐resistance of wool fabrics but impairs their softness, so different polysiloxane coatings were applied. Modifications in surface hydrophilicity and topography of fabrics and fibres have been recorded through drop test, contact angle and SEM, respectively. LTP improves the deposition of the polysiloxanes which, depending on their functionalities alter the original hydrophilicity of the wool surface. Softness and shrink‐resist results of the fabrics point out to a possible relationship between hydrophilicity of the wool fibre surface and the shrinkage behaviour of the fabrics. A possible mechanism of interaction between the different polysiloxane groups and the surface of untreated (UT) and LTP‐treated wool is proposed.