Some plasma treatment of PET fibres and adhesion testing to rubber

Polyethylene terephthalate fibre cords were modified with oxygen, water or hydrogen peroxide cold plasmas or coated with acrylic acid, butadiene and h ydrogen sulfide cold plasmas. Treated surfaces were studied in terms of the ir surface energies by contact angle measurement and morphology by scanning electron microscopy. Plasma treated cords were coated with a: resorcinol-f ormaldehyde latex and tested as rubber reinforcing materials. Oxygen plasma treatment leads to the greatest increase in adhesion but hydrogen sulfide also yielded promising results.