Oral
Abstract
Research summary supplied by the authors
The availability of plasma application technologies no longer limited to operating in low pressure conditions, but operating at atmospheric pressure has allowed to significantly expand the range of treatable materials. As regards the applicability of atmospheric plasma on leather, this work deals with the increase of the adhesion properties of leather to the surface finishing layers in order to increa se the mechanical and fastness performance. The ability of a surface to come into contact with liquid molecules, determined by the balance between cohesion forces and adhesion forces, can be increased by opening the bonds present on the surface, in this way the latter becomes more reactive towards the material to be adhered, or by inducing surface crosslinking, in which the attractive forces between the substrates can be increased thanks to the modification of the hydrophilic component of the surface. The atmospheric plasma DBD (Dielectric-barrier discharge) type, with its ability to amplify the adhesion properties of the treated materials, has been exploited to selectively treat the interfacial area, making it possible to increase the adhesion values of the finishing films on leather, as well as dry and wet rubbing fastness, compared to the usual spray or roll coating treatments, maintaining thin layer compliant with the required standards and with improved organoleptic properties with more pleasant and natural film.