Introduction
Wool fibre has a so-called skin-core structure. In this structure, the inner cortex is hydrophilic in nature due to the large number of polar groups contained in the polypeptide chains of the cortex. On the other hand, the outer surface of wool fibre is hydrophobic due to the presence of a high degree of disulphide cross-linkages in the cuticle and a film of fatty acids on the fibre surface which acts as a surface barrier against diffusion into wool fibres. Many chemical methods have been developed for modifying the wool fibre surface, such as chlorination and polymer deposition but these processes are often very harsh and modify bulk properties, besides creating effluent problems.
As a result of increasing environmental awareness and tougher government legislation on effluent discharge around the world, alternative methods with lower environmental impact need to be explored and one such method is surface modification by physical means. Different types of irradiation techniques have been utilized as alternatives to chemical processing of wool. UV irradiation has recently been used to modify the surface properties of wool and polyester fibre.
In the current study, focus is on the effect of 172nm UV excimer radiation on the properties of wool fibre have been reported. The effect of time and atmosphere (O2, Air, and N2) of irradiation on the properties of wool has been studied. Data is also presented for double hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties of wool fabric.
About the Author
The author is working as assistant executive in Vardhman Fabrics, process product development department.
Comments