Some Physical Effects of Acid Wet Chlorination on Wool Fibers in Relation to Its Use as a Shrinkproofing Treatment for Wool

Abstract

In the shrinkproofing of wool, uniformity of treatment between fibers is desirable but difficult to achieve. Laboratory- scale experiments, treating fibers in effect individually, have been conducted to determine whether the considerable varia tion normally obtained is due to inherent differences between the fibers, or is simply the result of inhomogeneous exposure to the chlorinating solution. It is shown that, under such laboratory conditions, a high degree of uniformity can be attained, even with levels of treatment which cause very little damage to the wool. There is, therefore, no inherent variation between fibers which would prohibit uniform treatment, and it is worth while to attempt to improve the present process. The techniques used for examination of the fibers were: comparison of forces required to extend 15% in water before and after treatment; microscopy and micromanipulation; the Allwörden reaction; friction measurements by an improved capstan method; loss of weight in a blank dye-bath. The amount of chlorine reacting was estimated approximately from auxiliary experiments.