Influence of Succinylation on the Interactions of Wool Fibers and Water

Abstract

Succinylation after reduction or partial hydrolysis of wool fibers raises their water absorbability, hygroscopicity, and nonfreezing bound water content. The crystallinity of wool fibers decreases after succinylation, which suggests that the reaction affects not only the amorphous region but also the crystalline region. Both the increased amorphous region and the carboxyl groups introduced by succinylation contribute to the rise in hygroscop icity and nonfreezing water content. Water absorbability increases with the number of carboxyl groups, although it is not affected by a change in crystallinity induced by succinylation.