title: Hydrophobic Coatings on Cotton Obtained by in Situ Plasma Polymerization of a Fluorinated Monomer in Ethanol Solutions.
abstract: Plasma polymerization using hydrophobic monomers in the gas phase is a well-known technology to generate hydrophobic coatings. However, synthesis of functional hydrophobic coatings using plasma technology in liquids has not yet been accomplished. This work is consequently focused on polymerization of a liquid fluorinated monomer on cotton fabric initiated by atmospheric plasma in a dielectric barrier discharge configuration. Functional hydrophobic coatings on cotton were successfully achieved using in situ atmospheric plasma-initiated polymerization of fluorinated monomer dissolved in ethanol. Gravimetric measurements reveal that the amount of polymer deposited on cotton substrates can be modulated with the concentration of monomer in ethanol solution, and cross-linking reactions occur during plasma polymerization of a fluorinated monomer even without the presence of a cross-linking agent. FTIR and XPS analysis were used to study the chemical composition of hydrophobic coatings and to get insights into the physicochemical processes involved in plasma treatment. SEM analysis reveals that at high monomer concentration, coatings possess a three-dimensional pattern with a characteristic interconnected porous network structure. EDX analysis reveals that plasma polymerization of fluorinated monomers takes place preferentially at the surface of cotton fabric and negligible polymerization takes place inside the cotton fabric. Wetting time measurements confirm the hydrophobicity of cotton coatings obtained although equilibrium moisture content was slightly decreased. Additionally, the abrasion behavior and resistance to washing of plasma-coated cotton has been evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC), Department of Chemical and Surfactants Technology, Plasma Chemistry Group, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC) , Barcelona 08034, Spain.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6324-4983
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.affiliation: Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC), Department of Chemical and Surfactants Technology, Plasma Chemistry Group, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC) , Barcelona 08034, Spain.
authors.forename: Josep Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Teixidó
authors.affiliation: Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University , Hung Hom, Kowloon Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Chi-Wai
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Kan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC), Department of Chemical and Surfactants Technology, Plasma Chemistry Group, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC) , Barcelona 08034, Spain.|Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Textile Engineering Department, University of Belgrade , Belgrade 11120, Serbia.
authors.forename: Petar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jovančić
keywords: abrasion; cotton; fluorinated monomer; hydrophobic coatings; plasma in liquids; plasma polymerization