Effects of Domestic Alkaline Detergents on Strength and Elongation of Wool Fibers Shrink Proofed with Chlorine

Abstract

Kroy-treated wool and Dichlorocyanuric acid treated wool (DCCA-treated wool) were selected for wool fibers shrink proofed with chlorine. The laundering treatment with domestic alkaline detergents included any proteolytic enzyme decreased the strength and elongation at break of DCCA-treated wool with increasing of the laundering treatment time, but led to no significant changes for intact and Kroy-treated wool. From SEM images of fiber surface and cross section of each wool sample before and after the laundering treatment, it was found that cell membrane complex (CMC) regions in both cuticle and cortex phase of DCCA-treated wool fibers were damaged by the detergents. It was suggested that CMC structure of DCCA-treated wool fibers was deteriorated extremely, but that of Kroy-treated wool fibers was almost retained its original form as well as intact wool fibers. It was consider that DCCA-treated wool was decreased of the structural function of CMC to resist entering of enzyme and surfactant in cortex region, and it was became easy to receive any action of the detergent.