KES-F analysis of low temperature plasma treated wool fabric

Low temperature plasma (LTP) treatment was applied to wool fabric with the use of a non-polymerising gas, namely oxygen. After the LTP treatment, the fabric mechanical properties, including low-stress mechanical properties, air permeability and thermal properties were evaluated. The low-stress mechanical properties were evaluated by means of the Kawabata Evaluation System for Fabric (KES-F), revealing that the tensile, shearing, bending, compression and surface properties were altered after the LTP treatment. The changes in these properties are believed to be closely related to the inter-fibre and inter-yarn frictional force induced by the LTP. The decrease in the air permeability of the LTP-treated wool fabric was found to be probably due to the plasma action effect on the increase in the fabric thickness and a change in the morphology of the fabric surface, which was confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy micrographs. The change in the thermal properties of the LTP-treated wool fabric was in good agreement with the above findings and can be attributed to the amount of air trapped between the yarns and fibres. This study suggested that LTP treatment can influence the final properties of wool fabric.