ABSTRACT
Abstract-The present work focuses on the post-application of various functional polysiloxane softeners with different chemical groups on wool fabrics treated with water vapour low-temperature plasma (LTP). The aim is to improve the handle of the LTP-treated wool fabrics while conserving the shrink-resistance conferred by LTP. No significant changes were found in the degree of whiteness due to the application of polysiloxanes on LTP-treated fabrics. The polysiloxane deposition was found to be improved due to the LTP treatment. Contact-angle measurements on single fibres evidenced hydrophilicity variations due to the presence of the different polysiloxanes on the surface of LTP-treated fibres. Results showed that the degree of hydrophilicity of the surface was related to the extent of fabric shrinkage.
