Abstract:

In order to solve the proboem of neutral feather keratin on limited use in the textile sizing field due to poor water-solubility under neutral condition, various concentrations of hydrophilic vinyl monomer - acrylic acid (AA) were grafted onto the molecular chains of native feather keratin. A series of feather keratin-g-PAA with different grafting ratios were prepared and the grafted feather keratin sizes were endowed with water-solubility or good water-dispersibility under neutral condition. The sizing experiments on pure cotton yarns were carried out using the natural and grafted feather keratins as sizing agents, respectively. Sizing properties of feather keratins were evaluated in terms of tensile strength, tensile elongation, abrasion resistance, and the hairiness amount of the sized yarns. The results show that graft modification can remarkably improve sizing properties of the feather keratin. Compared with the unsized cotton yarns, the yarns sized by modified feather keratin (grafting ratio: 29.72%) exhibit better properties. The tensile strength of the yarns sized by the grafted keratin is increased by 24.56% while the tensile elongation is decreased by only 14.49%. The abrasion number of the sized yarns is almost 4 times as high as that of unsized yarns. In addition, the hairiness amount of the yarns sized by the grafted keratin is decreased to a large extent.

Key words: feather keratin, graft polymerization, acrylic acid, sizing property, water-solubility