Process and product optimization in the textile industry using plasma treatment at atmospheric pressure

Joint project of several INPLAS members

In the BMBF-funded project with the acronym μPlasTex (funding codes 13N9273 to 13N9277), the foundations for the successful transfer of atmospheric pressure plasma processes to the textile industry were laid in a subproject. In the production of awning fabrics (for the Markilux and SWELA brands) of the participating application partner from the textile finishing industry Schmitz-Werke GmbH + Co. KG, Emsdetten, Germany, the use of the plasma:

• increases the longevity of the awning fabric,
• in combination with textile auxiliaries from nanotechnology, creates a structured surface and thus improves the usage properties (beading effect, soiling behavior, roll-off angle, honey run-off) and
• one process step is saved.

The atmospheric pressure plasma treatment plant has already been running reliably there since 2011. The experts involved on the atmospheric pressure plasma technology side were SOFTAL Corona & Plasma GmbH, Hamburg, and the Fraunhofer IST, Braunschweig.

Further reading