New Aspects on the Ozonization of Wool

Abstract

The rate of reaction of ozone with wool, as measured by antifelting and bleaching effects, increased when the incoming ozone gas stream was mixed with steam or was passed through, rather than over, the wodl. High reaction rates were also attained and less ozone consumed when ozone gas was passed through moistened fabric at room temperature. The shortest time observed for effective antifelting was 30 sec. Dyeing rates generally increased, but short ozone reaction times at room temperature led to reduced dyeing rates. A wide variety of fabrics has been stabilized including kid mohair-wool blend fabric, and wool socks, and heavy wool upholstery fabric. Acid and alkali solubility were increased somewhat with length of treatment. Fabric tensile properties were not significantly altered, but fiber surface friction was increased. Top drafting forces were markedly increased. Fabric hand was not significantly altered by treatments at room temperature, but at higher temperatures, fabrics became somewhat boardy. Much of the loss in hand was restored by subsequent washing or by acid or salt treatment. Abrasion resistance was virtually unaltered, and water repellency was only slightly reduced by short treatments. However, longer treatments caused a lower ing of abrasion resistance and considerable reduction in water repellency.