A Review on Surface Modification of Wool Fibers Using Plasma Technology and Its Effect on Dyeing Properties

Low temperature plasma technology has attracted the attention of several researchers as it is a fast and environmentally friendly method for surface modifcation of textiles. In this study, the effects of plasma treatment on physical and chemical properties of wool fbers including surface morphology, tenacity, surface functional groups and water wicking are reviewed. Due to the etching effect, cold plasma treatment can improve the hydrophilicity and dyeability of wool fbers. The effects of cold plasma treatment on dyeing of wool fbers with different synthetic and natural dyes have been also reviewed. Generally, the surface modifcation of wool fbers using oxygen, nitrogen and argon plasmas can improve the dyeability of wool fbers with anionic dyes. Furthermore, the color fastness properties of the plasma treated wool samples are improved compared with those of the untreated samples.