The Journal of Industrial Textiles has published the results of a study conducted by Texas Tech University and Enercon Industries that determined pre-treating spunbond polypropylene nonwoven fabrics with atmospheric plasma  increases the breathability of the fabric.
 
Atmospheric plasma treatment increases the number of pores and enlarges the pore size of the fabric improving the diffusion of vapor between the filaments in the spunbond structure without compromising the barrier properties. These properties are significant within the medical industry when developing disposable medical clothing such as surgical masks, gowns and drapes.
 
One of the most demanded properties of barrier fabrics for medical applications is the developments of a low cost nonwoven material that is breathable, sterilizable, flexible, and resistant to blood and viral penetration.
 
Enercon’s Plasma3 is an in-line, dry and continuous surface treatment process for web application. Its treatment techniques provide a fast, efficient and eco-friendly breathability effect on nonwoven/textile surfaces.
 
Seshadri Ramkumar’s group in the Nonwovens & Advanced Materials Laboratory and colleagues in the Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Mechanical Engineering at Texas Tech University collaborated with Enercon to explore environmental friendly ways to enhance the breathability of nonwoven synthetic fabrics.