Changes in the Covalently Bound Surface Lipid Layer of Damaged Wool Fibers and Their Effects on Surface Properties

Abstract

The surface of wool fibers consists of cuticular cells, the surface of which is hydrophobic in nature due to the existence of a lipid layer on the epicuticle. This layer is known to consist of covalently bound fatty acids such as 18-methyl eicosanoic acid. Wool fibers are damaged by physical and chemical treatments during processing. In this study, we investigate changes in the covalently bound surface lipid layer by chemical (chlorination) and physical (corona discharge) treatments, and try to evaluate the covalently bound surface lipid contents of damaged fibers. We also evaluate surface characteristics such as contact angle and hand values by the KES-FB method, and we discuss these results in terms of the covalently bound surface lipid contents.

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