A Study of Wool Carbonizing

Abstract

After steeping scoured wool in an acid solution and centrifuging, the surface liquid remaining in the wool mass exists in various forms of discrete droplets. During the drying phase of a carbonizing process, these droplets contract and their acid concen tration increases. Beneath the droplets of concentrated acid, intercellular material is extracted from between the overlapping wool scales; the scales lift and may eventually break off. By adding the "critical spreading concentration" of a surfactant to the acid bath, the surface liquor after centrifuging remains spread over the fibers as a film and prevents local concentrations of acid forming during drying.