  Durable delustered PET (PET-TiO2) fabrics super hydrophilic surface has been
obtained by plasma selecting etching. The aging effect of their hydrophilicity
after plasma treatment has been investigated with storage time. After Ar/O2
radio frequency (RF) plasma treatment for only 7 min, PET-TiO2 fabric showed
water contact angle of 0o. After 10 month storage time, it keeps its water
contact angle below 75.7o. Further more, with Xenon light irradiation for 10
min, it is firstly found that it has well-recovered water contact angle to
5{\deg}. While the contact angle of PET fabric for 7 min returns to 123.0{\deg}
and its hydrophilicity disappeared almost completely and showed no response to
Xenon light irradiation. The water absorption rate of 7 min plasma treated
PET-TiO2 fabric increased by 57.54%. By field emission scanning electron
microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray
diffraction analysis(XRD) measurement, waviness structure of humps and ridges
with irregular particles or pits were found on the plasma treated PET-TiO2
fabric surface and increased Ti atomic percentage was observed. It is verified
that TiO2 particles inside PET-TiO2 fiber have been exposed to its surface by
plasma selective etching of its organic component. It suppresses the aging
effect and is characterized with durable and recoverable hydrophilicity. This
one step, quick, green and cost-resonable manufacture method has a pratical
application for durable superhydrophilic surfaces.
