Physico-chemical Study on the Surface Properties of Physically and Chemically Treated Wool Fibre

Abstract

The wool scales present on the fibre surface give rise to certain unwanted effects in textile wet processing, for example, felting and poor wettability. In the past, the removal of scale was done either through physical/chemical degradation of the scales or by deposition of polymer on the scales. In modern treatments, a combination of both methods are usually carried out. Because the deposition of polymer on the fibre surface depends greatly on the surface characteristics of the fibre, therefore, the surface properties of modified fibres are important factors for polymer application. On the other hand, the modified surface may also result in improved wettability of the fibre. The present paper investigated the surface physico-chemical properties of wool fibres subjected to different surface modification treatments. In this paper, Soxhlet extracted (dichloromethane extracted) wool fibres (21 J..lm diameter) were modified by potassium permanganate / salt treatment, sodium metabisulphite treatment and plasma treatments (oxygen, nitrogen, 25% hydrogen and 750% nitrogen gas mixture). The study of wool fibre surface physico-chemical properties included contact angle measurement with different solvents, critical surface tension, surface free energy and saturated adsorption value. Experimental analysis showed that these properties were imQroved after the surface modification treatments, and the results were calculated quantitatively and discussed.