Synergetic effect of DC air plasma and cellulase enzyme treatment on the hydrophilicity of cotton fabric

The effects of DC air plasma and cellulase enzyme treatments on the hydrophilicity of cotton fabric samples were investigated. Cotton fabric samples were treated with DC air plasma (P), cellulase enzyme (E), enzyme treatment preceded by plasma (PE) and plasma treatment preceded by enzyme (EP) to improve the hydrophilicity. The physico-chemical changes that occurred during the treatments were studied using dynamic wicking test, SEM, XRD, UATR-FTIR, weight loss and air permeability measurements. The UATR-FTIR results revealed that, for EP treated fabrics, there is a decrease in the intensity of C1–O–C4 peak (894 cm−1) indicating the glycosidic bond breakage with an increase in the intensity of CO peak (1734 cm−1) due to oxidation at C6, C1/C4 carbon by enzyme and plasma treatments. SEM and XRD results reveal that, plasma and enzyme treatment leads to surface etching, removing the non-cellulosic compounds thereby increasing the hydrophilicity of the cotton fabrics. The synergetic effect of plasma and enzyme treatments on physical and chemical properties of the cotton fabric is studied and the results are discussed.