In this study, both air-oxygen-helium and air-helium atmospheric pressure plasma treatments were employed to desize PVA on a rayon (viscose) fabric. Both the plasma treatments were able to remove some of the PVA on the rayon fabric and increase PVA solubility in cold water, resulting in a higher weight loss in cold washing. The effect of the atmospheric pressure plasmas became greater as the treatment time increased. Plasma treatment followed by one cold and one hot washing had the same effect as the conventional chemical treatments followed by two cycles of cold and hot washing. The atmospheric plasma treatment did not have negative effect on rayon fabric tensile strength.
