MODIFICATION OF POLYETHYLENE, POLYPROPYLENE AND COTTON USING AN ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE GLOW DISCHARGE WITH LIQUID ELECTROLYTE CATHODE

The action of atmospheric pressure air glow discharge with aqueous electrolyte cathode onto surface of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) films and grey cotton fabric has been investigated. Distilled water and KC1 aqueous solutions were utilized as a discharge cathode. Polymer samples were placed in the liquid 2 mm below the gas-liquid interface. Surface of PE and PP was characterized by contact angle measurement followed by surface free energy calculation, Fourier Transform Infrared by Attenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR-ATR) and XPS. Height of water capillary rise was used to characterize cotton fabric modification. After treating of PE and PP's surface with OH-groups, C=O groups in esters, ketones, aldehydes and carboxyl groups have been observed. Modification process was able to improve the wettability of polymer films and cotton fabric.