Sterilization of mycete attached on the unearthed silk fabrics by an atmospheric pressure plasma jet

The sterilization of the simulated unearthed silk fabrics using an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) system employing Ar/O₂ or He/O₂ plasma to inactivate the mycete attached on the silk fabrics is reported. The effects of the APPJ characteristics (particularly the gas type and discharge power) on the fabric strength, physical-chemical structures, and sterilizing efficiency were investigated. Experimental results showed that the Ar/O₂ APPJ plasma can inactivate the mycete completely within 4.0 min under a discharge power of 50.0 W. Such an APPJ treatment had negligible impact on the mechanical strength of the fabric and the surface chemical characteristics. Moreover, the Ar ions, O and OH radicals were shown to play important roles on the sterilization of the mycete attached on the unearthed silk fabrics.