Mechanical and Dyeing Properties of Wool and Cotton Fabrics Treated with Low Temperature Plasma and Enzymes

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Abstract
Cotton and wool fabrics were treated with low temperature oxygen plasma or en zymes or both and examined for their mechanical and dyeing properties. Plasma- treated cotton showed reduced strength, while the rate of weight loss in subsequent cellulase treatments decreased compared with untreated cotton. Equilibrium uptake of a direct dye remained unchanged regardless of plasma or cellulase treatment. The rate of dyeing increased, however, although the difference was slight, in the order of plasma treatment < untreated < cellulase treatment = plasma/cellulase treatment. Plasma pretreatment of wool caused an increase in strength and a higher rate of weight loss in the subsequent protease treatment. When wool was dyed with a leveling acid dye, equilibrium dye uptake did not change with plasma or protease pretreatment, but the dyeing rate increased with the plasma pretreatment With a milling acid dye, both increased greatly in the order of untreated < protease treatment < plasma treat ment < plasma/protease treatment. From these results, we assumed that plasma attacks the surface of the fiber, and the enzyme affects mainly the inner part of the fiber. This was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. The polymerization of enzyme with a water-soluble carbodiimide did not show any strength retention effect in enzymatic treatment of cotton and wool.