Abstract: In this paper, the tussah silk fabric was modified with fatty alcohol by lipid enzyme. The results showed that the highest grafting rate could reach to 19.8%, and the longer the hydrocarbon chain of fatty alcohol were, the greater of the water contact angles on modified tussah silk fabric surface were. The water contact angle could change from 55.8o to 128.3o, and the spray grade increased from 0 to 3. The air permeability of modified tussah silk fabric increased a little. The washing test showed that the esterified tussah silk fabric has good scourability. The hydrophobic property of esterified tussah silk only decreased a little after modified tussah silk fabric was washed 20 times. Therefore, the grafting method to endue the tussah silk fabric hydrophobic property was green and effective.

Key words: tussah silk fabric, gydrophobic, lipase, contact angle, fatty alcohol