Plasma Treatment and its Effect on Morphology and Electrical Resistance of Polyester Copper Nanoparticles Electroless Plated Fabrics

The plasma finishing treatment is an economical and facile technique for modification of a fabric surface in microscopic scale without using chemicals. Current work focuses on the influence of hydrolysis treatment on the fabric conductivity and its corresponding homogeneity compared to chemical etching. The SEM images indicate the positive effect of plasma treatment on the surface roughness and changes in the morphology of the fabric''s texture. This may suggest the necessity for inclusion of sensitizer and catalyst into the surface of the fabric to increase its conductivity and homogeneity. The measurement shows a significant drop in electrical resistance from1. 2 to 0. 2 Ω/cm2، respectively for chemically-hydrolysis compared to plasma-treatmed fabric. The homogenous coverage of single filaments by copper nanoparticles on the fabric surface formed by electroless plating shows a range of particle size below 100 nm، which is very much smaller than those formed by copper particles of about 500 nm reduced by chemical hydrolysis.