HMDSO-PLASMA MODIFICATION OF POLYPROPYLENE FABRICS

A hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO)-RF plasma was used to treat polypropyle ne (PP) fabrics to achieve an inorganic type surface. The properties o f the plasma modified PP were investigated through demand wettability and contact angle techniques. ESCA and ATR-IR spectroscopy indicated t he presence of Si--O--Si and Si--O--C based structures. The influence of treatment time on the level of deposition and surface atomic compos ition was established. Plasma induced molecular fragmentation of HMDSO was determined through GC-MS and high resolution MS analyses of the m olecular structures produced from recombination of active species, in the cold trap.