Abstract
The alkali treated and black dyed PET fabrics were sputter etched under Ar gas atmosphere. The color depth of PET fabrics were increased with sputter etching time only under some limits of discharge power. And above that limits of discharge power the color depth of PET fabrics was decreased by increasing discharge power and treatment time. Minute cracks were made by sputter etching in the whole surface of fabrics to the direction of perpendicular to the longitudinal side of yarns. The fineness and density of minute crack were increased with lowering discharge power. And the size of crack was far smaller than that of microcrater which was obtained by alkali treatment. It is considered that the increase of color depth is related to the minute crack. The water permeation time of sputter etched fabrics was increased with increasing discharge power and treating time. The increase of color depth attained by sputter etching was fully kept through repeated laundering.