Increased hydrophilic properties of polymeric fibers treated in atmospheric pressure plasma

Polymeric fibers are important both in medicine and textile industry. For this reason it is very important to know as many information regarding the polymeric fibers as possible. In the present paper the surface modification of polyamide 6 fibers, used nowadays as suture material, after atmospheric dielectric barrier discharge treatment is studied. The polyamide 6 surface modifications were analyzed by means of contact angle method, Atomic Force Microscopy technique, X-ray Photoelectrons Spectroscopy. After plasma exposure increased hydrophilic character was found, proven by the good correlation of the results from surface investigation techniques: increased roughness, lower water contact angle and higher oxygen content.