In recently years, low temperature plasma treatment is used to modify the surface property of polymer, but energy of plasma treatment will due to the reduction of the mechanical properties of polymer. In this work, polyethylene fabrics which are composed of high tenacity fibers of polyethylene was treated with low temperature plasma, and also discussed that the wettability and tenacity of polyethylene fibers after treatment. We found that the wettability of polyethylene fabrics were improved and could absorb water after treatment by low temperature plasma、but the tenacity of polyethylene fiber was decreased with increasing treatment time and radio frequency power, respectively. Moreover, we also measured the deposited chemical groups on the surface of polyethylene fabrics by FTIR and also observed the surface of high tenacity fibers by scanning electron microscopy.
