Plasma treatment of polymer materials for increased dyeability

A plasma-treated polymer material generated by implementing a method comprising the steps of:

• (a) generating a glow discharge plasma;
• and
• (b) treating the polymer material with the glow discharge plasma in order to increase the dyeability of the polymer material, wherein:
• the polymer material is a hydrophobic polymer material;
• step (b) comprises the step of treating the polymer material with the glow discharge plasma in order to introduce hydrophilic functional groups onto a surface of the hydrophobic polymer material, thereby increasing the dyeability of the polymer material with a water-based dye;
• the hydrophobic polymer material comprises at least one of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyester, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and polytrimethylene terephthalate (PIT);
• and
• the material is a multicomponent material comprising a bicomponent fiber having an inner core of one type of polymer and an outer sheath of another type of polymer.

A method for increasing the dyeability of a polymer material, comprising the steps of:

• (a) generating a glow discharge plasma;
• and
• (b) treating the polymer material with the glow discharge plasma in order to increase the dyeability of the polymer material, wherein:
• the polymer material comprises PP;
• the glow discharge plasma is generated with a working gas comprising (N2+H2) having an N2-to-H2 flow rate ratio of between about 30 and 50, at a power of between about 350 watts and 450 watts, at a pressure of between about 25 inches Hg and 30 inches Hg, and at a temperature of between about 60° F. and 95° F.;
• and
• the polymer material is treated with the glow discharge plasma for a time less than about 30 seconds.

A method for increasing the dyeability of a polymer material, comprising the steps of:

• (a) generating a glow discharge plasma;
• and
• (b) treating the polymer material with the glow discharge plasma in order to increase the dyeability of the polymer material, wherein:
• the polymer material comprises PP;
• the glow discharge plasma is generated with a working gas comprising (N2+He+H2) having an N2-to-H2 flow rate ratio of between about 2.5 and 50 and an N2-to-He flow rate ratio of between about 4 and 6, at a power of between about 350 watts and 450 watts, at a pressure of between about 25 inches Hg and 30 inches Hg, and at a temperature of between about 60° F. and 95° F.;
• and
• the polymer material is treated with the glow discharge plasma for a time of less than about 30 seconds.

A method for increasing the dyeability of a polymer material, comprising the steps of:

• (a) generating a glow discharge plasma;
• and
• (b) treating the polymer material with the glow discharge plasma in order to increase the dyeability of the polymer material, wherein:
• the polymer material comprises PET;
• and
• the glow discharge plasma is generated with a working gas comprising (SO2+O2).

A method for increasing the dyeability of a polymer material, comprising the steps of:

• (a) generating a glow discharge plasma;
• (b) treating the polymer material with the glow discharge plasma in order to increase the dyeability of the polymer material;
• and
• (c) exposing the plasma-treated polymer material to an acid dye or a basic dye to generate a dyed polymer material, wherein:
• the polymer material comprises PET;
• and
• the glow discharge plasma is generated with a working gas comprising (N2+He+H2).

A method for increasing the dyeability of a polymer material, comprising the steps of:

• (a) generating a glow discharge plasma;
• and
• (b) treating the polymer material with the glow discharge plasma in order to increase the dyeability of the polymer material, wherein:
• the polymer material comprises PET;
• the glow discharge plasma is generated with a working gas comprising (N2+He+H2) having an N2-to-H2 flow rate ratio of between about 30 and 50 and an N2-to-He flow rate ratio of between about 6 and 8, at a power of between about 300 watts and 400 watts, at a pressure of between about 25 inches Hg and 30 inches Hg, and at a temperature of between about 75° F. and 95° F.;
• and
• the polymer material is treated with the glow discharge plasma for a time of less than about 30 seconds.

A plasma-treated polymer material generated by implementing a method comprising the steps of:

• (a) generating a glow discharge plasma;
• and
• (b) treating the polymer material with the glow discharge plasma in order to increase the dyeability of the polymer material, wherein:
• the polymer material comprises PP;
• the glow discharge plasma is generated with a working gas comprising (N2+H2) having an N2-to-H2 flow rate ratio of between about 30 and 50, at a power of between about 350 watts and 450 watts, at a pressure of between about 25 inches Hg and 30 inches Hg, and at a temperature of between about 60° F. and 95° F.;
• and
• the polymer material is treated with the glow discharge plasma for a time less than about 30 seconds.

A plasma-treated polymer material generated by implementing a method comprising the steps of:

• (a) generating a glow discharge plasma;
• and
• (b) treating the polymer material with the glow discharge plasma in order to increase the dyeability of the polymer material, wherein:
• the polymer material comprises PP;
• the glow discharge plasma is generated with a working gas comprising (N2+He+H2) having an N2-to-H2 flow rate ratio of between about 2.5 and 50 and an N2-to-He flow rate ratio of between about 4 and 6, at a power of between about 350 watts and 450 watts, at a pressure of between about 25 inches Hg and 30 inches Hg, and at a temperature of between about 60° F. and 95° F.;
• and
• the polymer material is treated with the glow discharge plasma for a time of less than about 30 seconds.

A plasma-treated polymer material generated by implementing a method comprising the steps of:

• (a) generating a glow discharge plasma;
• and
• (b) treating the polymer material with the glow discharge plasma in order to increase the dyeability of the polymer material, wherein:
• the polymer material comprises PET;
• and
• the glow discharge plasma is generated with a working gas comprising (SO2+O2).

A plasma-treated polymer material generated by implementing a method comprising the steps of:

• (a) generating a glow discharge plasma;
• (b) treating the polymer material with the glow discharge plasma in order to increase the dyeability of the polymer material;
• and
• (c) exposing the plasma-treated polymer material to an acid dye or a basic dye to generate a dyed polymer material, wherein:
• the polymer material comprises PET;
• and
• the glow discharge plasma is generated with a working gas comprising (N2+He+H2).

A plasma-treated polymer material generated by implementing a method comprising the steps of:

• (a) generating a glow discharge plasma;
• and
• (b) treating the polymer material with the glow discharge plasma in order to increase the dyeability of the polymer material, wherein:
• the polymer material comprises PET;
• the glow discharge plasma is generated with a working gas comprising (N2+He+H2) having an N2-to-H2 flow rate ratio of between about 30 and 50 and an N2-to-He flow rate ratio of between about 6 and 8, at a power of between about 300 watts and 400 watts, at a pressure of between about 25 inches Hg and 30 inches Hg, and at a temperature of between about 75° F. and 95° F.;
• and
• the polymer material is treated with the glow discharge plasma for a time of less than about 30 seconds.