Surface Modification of Wool Fabric with Chitosan and Gamma Radiation

Abstract

Surface modification of wool was done with chitosan, gamma radiation and combined chitosan/gamma radiation to analyze how polymer loading%, k/s value, dye uptake% and wash fastness property vary of the dyed fabric. In this investigation scoured and bleached knitted wool fabric was treated with 0.1%, 0.3%, 0.5%, 0.7% and 1% chitosan and polymer loading was found as of 1.21%, 1.38%, 0.32%, 0.14% and 0.48% respectively. It was found that polymer loading % increase significantly with the decrease of chitosan concentration % up to a certain limit. Some samples were irradiated with 5kGy, 10kGy, 20kGy and 50kGy gamma radiation individually. Combined chitosan/gamma treatment was carried out by treating with 0.1% chitosan followed by treatment with 5kGy, 10kGy, 20kGy and 50kGy gamma radiation. The infrared spectrum of wool specimens were analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FT-IR). It was found that the infrared spectrum of untreated and treated wool specimens were approximately same except the peak absorb at 1340-1265 cm-1 which indicate the C-N stretch absorption of aromatic amines. After dyeing k/s value of untreated and treated wool specimens were measured using Data color 600 ® .There was a remarkable variation of k/s value on different treatment process. Dye uptake% of untreated and treated wool specimens were determined by using UV Visible Spectrophotometer in terms of absorbency. Color fastness to wash was measured using ISO standard. There was no significant change of wash fastness property of treated and untreated wool.