PLASMA TREATMENT OF WOOL TODAY .1. FIBER PROPERTIES, SPINNING AND SHRINKPROOFING

This paper gives basic information pertaining to the plasma treatment of wool top considered as an industrially feasible process. The result s presented here are based on experience gained over five years with t he world's first prototype machine for continuous treatment of wool to ps with glow discharges. The machine capacity is estimated for 40 kg/h and the top breaks during processing no longer pose a problem as the number of breaks is no more than 0.12 breaks per 1000 m of top. Plasma treatment of wool top does not damage the fibres; the fibre/fibre fri ction increases but the differential frictional effect decreases. Othe r physical properties of wool remain unchanged with the exception of a slight decrease in the loop breaking force. The tenacity of yarns spu n from plasma-treated wool top is higher by about 25% and elongation a t break point is also higher compared with standard yarns. Plasma trea tment considerably reduces the felting potential for any product obtai ned from modified wool. Good hand washability is usually achievable in a 'plasma only' process; an environmentally acceptable plasma/polymer process is also available.