The objective of this work was to functionalize with microcapsules of untreated and treated polyester fabrics with plasma and ozone. Plasma treatment was carried out using a corona discharge at 200 W, 400 w and 800 W with a constant gap between electrode and roll of 4 mm. For ozone treatment, polyester samples were exposed for 20, 30, and 45 min to ozone production by low-pressure mercury lamps. After plasma or ozone, lavender oil microcapsules were immobilized onto fabric by a conventional pad–dry–cure process, using citric acid as a crosslinking agent. The microcapsules were produced by complex coacervation between chitosan and arabic gum, with lavender oil in emulsion. The release showed that the ozone on the surface of PET (polyester) increased the affinity for the microcapsules, resulting in a greater adhesion of the microcapsules and, as consequence, more amount of oil to be liberated. On the other hand, the effect of the plasma treatment was related to physical etching, without a chemical change, and does not interfere with the affinity of the microcapsule, whose external layer is a polar polymer. The delay in the oil release from PET treated with plasma can also be related to the pore formation, which could retain the microcapsules and difficult the release of the oil. Ozone proved to be a good surface treatment to enhance the functionalization of the textile substrate, so that the oil release with time can be greatly improved.Postprint (published version
