Gas plasma treatment for modification of surface wetting properties

A method for conditioning the surface activity of polymer films, fabrics of natural and synthetic fibers, flax based fabrics, or cellulose fiber materials, for improved binding with dyestuffs and faster viscose impregnation of said fiber materials and reduced wetting angle of polymer films, comprising the steps of:

• placing the polymer films, fabrics of natural and synthetic fibers, flax based fabrics, or cellulose fiber materials in a plasma generator chamber;
• and
• exposing the polymer films, fabrics of natural and synthetic fibers, flax based fabrics, or cellulose fiber materials to a low temperature gas plasma in said chamber at a pressure of 0.01-10 Torr, for a treatment time ranging from 3 seconds to 600 seconds, characterized in that said gas plasma comprises an inorganic gas admixed with water vapor, said water vapor being present in a concentration of between 0.05% and 0.5%.

A method of improving the hydrophilic surface properties of polymer films, fabrics of natural and synthetic fibers, flax based fabrics, or cellulose fiber materials by treatment in a low temperature plasma, comprising the steps of

• placing the polymer films, fabrics of natural and synthetic fibers, flax based fabrics, or cellulose fiber materials in a plasma generator chamber;
• and
• exposing the polymer films, fabrics of natural and synthetic fibers, flax based fabrics, or cellulose fiber materials to a low temperature gas plasma in said chamber for a treatment time ranging from 3 seconds to 600 seconds, characterized in that said gas plasma comprises an inorganic gas admixed with water vapor, said water vapor being present in a concentration of between 0.05% and 0.5%.