Abstract:

In order to reduce the effect of DCCA used in the chloride-protease process for wool shrink-proofing on the environment, the feasibility of improving the antifelting process for wool by lowering the dosage of DCCA has been studied through comparing current high DCCA-low protease process（3.5%（o.w.f） DCCA+0.7%（o.w.f） Protease） and modified low DCCA-high protease process（1%（o.w.f）DCCA+2.5%（o.w.f）Protease）in terms of shrinkage, wettabiliaty and break strength. In addition, according to the results of protein release efficiency, weight loss and SEM examination, the mechanism of the modified process was further analyzed. It is shown that the wool treated with modified process is also machine-washable. Meanwhile, better wettability, and less fiber damage when compared with the current process. The result of the concentration of hydrolyzed proteins as a function of time shows that the pretreatment of low DCCA can produce a rapid increase in protein release, causing an increase in the weight loss. SEM images indicate that the modified process can well strip the scales of wool.