Atmospheric pressure plasma treatment and breathability of polypropylene nonwoven fabric

The effect of atmospheric pressure plasma treatment and breathability of polypropylehe nonwoven fabric was evaluated. Nonwoven fabric was passed through the atmospheric pressure plasma chamber of one meter in width at a speed of 15 meters per minute. Plasma systems frequency was maintained at 150 kHz. Mixture of 90% nitrogen and 10% oxygen was used as the process gas and was introduced into the plasma chamber at a flow rate of 40 liters per minute. Porosity evaluation using mean flow pore diameter and pore size distribution analysis shows that the plasma treatment increases the pore size and results in larger pores. The increase in the number of large size pores improves the diffusion of vapor between the filaments in the spunbonded structure. In addition, FTIR analysis confirms the changes in the surface chemical composition of polypropylene after nitrogen and oxygen plasma treatment with the presence of hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl and amine groups.