Study on Wool Properties by Neutral Protease and Sodium Hypochlorite

摘要

Wool fabric has excellent thermal properties, soft and gentle luster. In recent years, the protease treatment is more and more used with high efficiency and mild conditions. In this experiment, wool fibers were chemically modified by neutral protease and sodium hypochlorite together. The treatment was: pre-treatment (NaClO 2%, liquor radio 1:50, the samples were treated 60 min at 30 ℃, washed); Neutral protease treatment (liquor radio 1:50, PH=7~7.5, 40 ℃, washed). The ensuing materials were fully characterised by bio-optical microscope, tensile strength measurements, FTIR, and so on. These techniques showed that wool fibers was damaged on the surface, most of the scales were destroyed. Wool fibers before and after pre-treatment of the infrared spectra indicate that cystine disulfide bonds are destroyed. The structure has little effect after neutral protease treatment. Experimental observation showed the color of wool fibers changed yellow after pre-treatment, and the role of neutral protease on wool is uneven. After treatment the moisture regain increased and the strength decreased.