Studies in Wool Yellowing

Abstract

Disulfide groups in wool have been converted to thioether groups by reduction and subsequent alkylation. In this way wool fabric that contained only 7-19%, of the original cystine content and that were almost identical in appearance with untreated fabrics were prepared. The rates of yellowing of these fabrics and of controls that were alkylated without prior reduction were studied under conditions of heat, hot alkali, and uv irradiation. The rate of yellowing of the modified wools was at least as great as that of untreated wool, and this suggests that the decomposition of disulfide groups is not of major importance in the yellowing process.