Effect of argon plasma treatment on hydrophilic stability of nanofiber webs

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of microwave‐induced low‐vacuum argon plasma treatment effects on the hydrophilic stability of various polymeric nanofiber webs. After plasma modification, samples are kept dry at room temperature in a dark place for the experiments, and the wettability of the nanofibers is improved by plasma treatment. The stability of the plasma‐treated hydrophilic nanofiber webs is observed for 55 days using water contact angle measurements. Different polymeric nanofiber webs show different stability. Based on the contact angle measurements, the surface starts to lose hydrophilicity during the first week after plasma treatment. The structural changes are examined by pore size measurements, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Two of the selected nanofiber webs are used as microfilters for separation of oily wastewater with a cross‐flow separation unit to measure the effect of the plasma treatment under wastewater. The permeability and selectivity of the plasma‐treated and untreated samples are compared. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46751.