THE MODIFICATION OF THE SURFACE-DIFFUSION BARRIER OF WOOL

The covalently bound fatty acid monolayer on the surface of wool fibre s acts as a hydrophobic barrier which can be removed by alcoholic alka line or chlorine treatments. Aqueous treatments have been investigated for the removal of the covalently bound fatty acid layer. Base/cation ic detergent treatments were found to be the most effective aqueous tr eatments, removing up to 65% of the surface bound fatty acid. When mor e than 20% of the covalently bound fatty acid was removed, wetting tim es were found to be significantly reduced. The time of dyeing for CI A cid Red 1 was reduced significantly following sodium carbonate/cetyl t rimethylammonium hydroxide treatments. The modification of surface bou nd fatty acids was assessed by monitoring the amount of 18-methyleicos anoic acid remaining bound to the fibre following each treatment.