PHYSICAL-PROPERTIES OF WOOL TREATED WITH MULTIFUNCTIONAL EPOXIDES

We have investigated the physical properties of tropical wool fabrics. Samples were woven with yarn from loose fibers treated with a water s oluble multifunctional epoxide, i.e., glycerol polyglycidyl ether (GPE ) in an aqueous medium catalyzed with a reductive agent (Na2S2O5) in t he presence and absence of saturated NaCl. The resin treatment stiffen ed the fabrics somewhat and decreased their ability to regain moisture a little. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a difference in the a brasive breakdown pattern between the GPE/saturated aqueous NaCl treat ed wool and the untreated one. A good state of preservation of the hyd rophobic nature of the scale surface after treatment was confirmed by soiling measurements of the wool with an oleophilic mixture/carbon bla ck complex. There were fewer carbon black particle deposits in surfact ant solution on the untreated and GPE/saturated aqueous NaCl treated w ool than on the GPE/H2O treated wool.