RESEARCH IN THE INFLUENCE OF UNBALANCED LOW-TEMPERATURE PLASMA UPON THE HYGIENIC PROPERTIES OF PROSTHETIC PILE LEATHER MADE OF S HEEPSKINS
This paper deals with experimental studies of prosthetic pile leather made of sheepskins and modified with the flow of unbalanced low-temperature plasma. Within the study, the leather made of sheepskins was processed with unbalanced low-temperature plasma in 6 modes. The criterion of plasma processing was selected - the hydrophilic properties of the material, measured on the time necessary for a drop of distillated water to soak into the structure of prosthetic pile leather. Based on the research findings, we found the two most hydrophilic modes of leather treatment with unbalanced low-temperature plasma. The hygienic properties of buffed prosthetic leather made of sheepskins were studied, and the main properties of porous materials, i.e. density and porosity, were considered. The porosity of the samples studied increased, which provides evidence of a positive effect provided by unbalanced low-temperature plasma upon the material under research. The hygroscopic showings were also considered for the samples studied upon processing them with unbalanced low-temperature plasma. It is found that the modified samples of prosthetic pile leather processed with plasma have higher hygroscopic properties as compared to control samples, which provides evidence of a positive effect of unbalanced low-temperature plasma upon the hygienic properties of prosthetic pile leather made of sheepskins. It is found that the hygienic properties of prosthetic leather made of sheepskins having buffed face surfaces can be improved due to processing it with plasma. In order to study the influence of low-temperature plasma processing upon the microstructure of leather derma, we obtained the photomicrographs of the cross-sections of ready leathers made of sheepskins. The research in the influence of unbalanced low-temperature plasma upon the hygienic properties of prosthetic pile leather made of sheepskins proved that plasma changed the structure of the leather derma, improving its properties, which confirms that it would be correct to use it in processing high-molecular materials.