Enzymatic Finishing of Wool Fabrics

SUMMARY

The objective of the present work is to evaluate the action of a protease when applied on a high quality wool fabric to obtain an improved touch and drape on the fabric as well as to decrease its shrinkage and pilling propensity.

The effectiveness of the enzymatic treatment as well as the intensity of the attack to the wool fibre are evaluated by determining several mechanical and chemical parameters.

Key Words:

• Wool
• finishing
• enzyme
• protease
• softness
• compressibility
• flexural stiffness
• bending
• dimensional stability
• pilling
• tensile strength
• abrasion resistance
• alkaline solubility
• urea-bisulphite solubility