1. Surfactant Technology Department, Institute of Chemical and Environmental Chemistry of Barcelona – Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, c. Jordi Girona 18‐26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain;2. Optical and Applied Physics Department, University of Barcelona, Avda. Diagonal 647, 08028 Barcelona, Spain;3. Surfactant Technology Department, Institute of Chemical and Environmental Chemistry of Barcelona – Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, c. Jordi Girona 18‐26, 08034 Barcelona, SpainSurfactant Technology Department, Institute of Chemical and Environmental Chemistry of Barcelona – Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, c. Jordi Girona 18‐26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain. Fax: (+34) 93 204 5904
Abstract:
Low temperature plasma (LTP) improves the shrink‐resistance of wool fabrics but impairs their softness, so different polysiloxane coatings were applied. Modifications in surface hydrophilicity and topography of fabrics and fibres have been recorded through drop test, contact angle and SEM, respectively. LTP improves the deposition of the polysiloxanes which, depending on their functionalities alter the original hydrophilicity of the wool surface. Softness and shrink‐resist results of the fabrics point out to a possible relationship between hydrophilicity of the wool fibre surface and the shrinkage behaviour of the fabrics. A possible mechanism of interaction between the different polysiloxane groups and the surface of untreated (UT) and LTP‐treated wool is proposed.
