Effect on Wrinkle Recovery of Processing Wool with 2-Iminothiolane Hydrochloride.

Abstract

In the previous paper, we proposed a new finishing method for creaseproof wool fabrics. Using 2-iminothiolane hydrochloride (2-IT), an appropriate number of thiol (-SH) groups were introduced into wool fabrics and then oxidized to make disulfide (-SS-) groups. Also, using this method, we were able to produce excellent wool having good wrinkle recovery and setting ability. In this study, we investigated the details of the reaction of 2-IT with wool fabrics and obtained the following results. 1) The amount of 2-IT that reacts is decreased in the case of dyed wool fabrics. 2) The reaction of 2-IT is complete within 2 hours at pH 7.9 and 40°C. 3) Wrinkle recovery is constant over the range of pH6.7∼8.0.4) No difference in wrinkle recovery was found over 0.3wt% of 2-IT without processing for reduction. Furthermore, it was shown that although the wrinkle recovery of wool fabrics treated by this method does not exceed that of wool fabrics treated with mercury acetate, it almost corresponds to the wrinkle recovery of 70% polyester wool fabrics after treatment with 2-IT under optimal conditions. In addition, the disulfide (-SS-) content of treated wool was estimated by FT Raman spectroscopy. As a result, it was clear that wrinkle recovery improved with an increase of the disulfide content in wool fabrics. From this experiment, it has become apparent that the wrinkle recovery of wool fabrics can be improved by introducing additional-SS-groups.