Atmospheric plasma application to improve adhesion of electrospun nanofibers onto protective fabric

Abstract

Nylon 6 electrospun nanofibers were deposited on plasma-pretreated woven fabric substrates with the objective of improving adhesion between them. The prepared samples were evaluated for adhesion strength and durability of nanofiber mats by carrying out peel strength, flex resistance, and abrasion resistance tests. The test results showed significant improvement in the adhesion of nanofiber mats on woven fabric substrates due to atmospheric plasma pretreatment. The samples also exhibited good flex and abrasion resistance characteristics. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and water contact angle analyses indicate that plasma pretreatment introduces radicals, increases the oxygen content on the substrate surface, and leads to formation of active chemical sites that may be responsible for enhanced cross-linking between the substrate fabric and the electrospun nanofibers, which in turn increases the adhesion properties. The work demonstrates that the plasma treatment of the substrate fabric prior to deposition of electrospun nanofiber mats is a promising method to prepare durable functional materials.

Keywords:

• adhesion
• atmospheric pressure plasma
• cross-linking
• dielectric barrier discharge
• electrospinning
• water contact angle

Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (Award No. BB08PRO008).