Nonionic surfactants and the wool fibre surface

Nonionic surfactants are found in many wool processing operations. This stu dy shows that X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) are useful tools in the investigation of the interacti on of nonionic surfactants and the wool fibre surface. Results confirm that nonionic surfactants such as TN450 and Teric N4 will adsorb onto the fibre surface with the bound lipid intact. Even after extensive rinsing, surfact ant molecules are present suggesting that these molecules bind strongly to the fibre surface. In addition, the nature of the fibre surface is shown to influence the adsorption of nonionic surfactant. The removal of the bound lipid from the fibre surface facilitates the adsorption process and the sub sequent surfactant treatment enhances the fibre's wettability. These result s have important practical implications. Also it is shown that the surfacta nt is not removed by extensive rinsing. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.