Wool Stabilization by Interfacial Polymerization

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Abstract
Poly(hexamethylene sehacamide) formed on the surface of wool by interfacial poly condensation appears to be grafted to the wool. The ultra-thin film of the polymer is not extracted by good solvents. If the grafting sites on the wool are blocked by acetylation prior to the interfacial polymerization, the surface, film is easily extracted with good solvents and the treated wool has no shrink resistance. Application of pre formed poly (hexaniethyelne sebacamide) from solution, followed by evaporation of the solvent imparts little or no shrink resistance to the wool, and the surface film so formed is easily extracted with good solvents. About 1% to 2% polymer can be grafted to the wool surface by interfacial polycondensation ; polymer in excess of this amount is only partially grafted. With suitable enzymes to eat away the wool from a treated wool sample, the grafted coatings have been isolated and characterized. The grafting sites in the wool have been shown to be the free amino groups of N-terminal amino acids and amino and hydroxyl groups of side chains in the wool proteins.