Atmospheric pressure plasma jet treatment of human hair fibers

Abstract

Human hair fibers in virgin and dyed forms were treated with atmospheric pressure helium, helium/oxygen, argon, and argon/oxygen plasma jets at 20 W of power. The effects of 10-min plasma treatment on surface morphology and chemistry were studied by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. The plasma treatment was quite effective for removing the organic residues from the surface and creating oxidized functional groups. Helium plasma had a mild cleaning effect on the surfaces while argon/oxygen plasma had the strongest corrosive effect. Mild hydrogen peroxide treatment for the same duration had neither the cleaning nor the oxidizing power of the plasma jets. These types of plasma jets have the potential to replace peroxide treatment. The corrosive jets can be used to restore dyed hair fibers. In addition, the jets can be used to clean the surfaces of hair fibers to prepare samples for analytical investigations where the organic residues may induce problems.