ABSTRACT
In general, textile wet-processing methods, especially those involving the use of toxic, hazardous and poorly biodegradable compounds and auxiliaries, are the main sources of effluent pollution (Radetic et al. 2007). However, maintenance of a green environment has become a critical global concern. The introduction of rigorous ecological legislation is forcing companies to consider not only the issue of industrial waste disposal, but also a possible replacement of conventional processes with treatments that can provide equal or even higher efficiency and lower environmental impact (Radetic et al. 2007). The pretreatment (preparation) and finishing of textile fabrics by plasma technologies is increasingly replacing conventional wet-chemical applications not only for economical considerations, but also for ecological considerations. The dry and environmentally friendly plasma treatment does not employ harmful chemical solutions and can be carried out without producing contaminated water or creating mechanical hazards for treated fabrics (Kan, Yuen, and Tsoi 2011; De Geyter, Morent, and Leys 2006; Hossain, Herrmann, and Hegemann 2006; Keller et al. 2005; Ceria et al. 2010). The technology significantly reduces pollution caused by residual chemicals. In addition, plasma is able to modify the substrate surface properties, such as generating microroughness and inducing chemically active functional groups, without affecting the bulk properties of the substrate (De Geyter, Morent, and Leys 2006; Ceria et al. 2010). Efficient plasma pretreatments improve the water absorption of fabrics, thereby reducing amount of chemicals needed in conventional processing with better exhaustion of chemicals from the bath (Radetic et al. 2007). Moreover, shortening of the wet-processing time and decreasing the required wet processing temperature may save limited energy resources (Radetic et al. 2007).
