Multi-functional military textile: Plasma-induced graft polymerization of a C6 fluorocarbon for repellent treatment on nylon–cotton blend fabric

This paper reports preparation of a dual functional 50/50 nylon/cotton blend fabric (NyCo) with an anti-bacterial bulk and repellent front surface using atmospheric pressure glow discharge plasma. In this report, a C6 fluorocarbon monomer, 2-(perfluorohexyl)ethyl acrylate was graft polymerized using plasma on the front surface of a nylon–cotton fabric which was already grafted with polyDADMAC for anti-bacterial properties. The surface was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The presence of fluorine on the surface was mapped and confirmed by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (TOF-SIMS). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed a uniform layer of fluorocarbon polymer on the fiber surface. High water contact angle of 144° was obtained on the surface. The surface also achieved a high American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) Test Method 193 rating of 8 and AATCC Test Method 118 rating of 5 indicating that the surface could repel a fluid with surface tension as low as 25 dyn/cm.