Stress relaxation studies on wool fibers

Abstract

AbstractStress relaxation studies were made on single fibers of Lincoln, Chokla, and Merino wool in water in the temperature range 2–80°C. Differences in the viscoelasticity of the three wool types were related to differences in their fine structure and morphology. Of the three wools, Merino fibers have the lowest crystalline content and the poorest fibril orientation and packing. This results in greater viscoelastic effects in this wool. Stress relaxation studies have been made in the Hookean, yield, and postyield regions, and the molecular mechanisms of stress relaxation have been discussed.