Characterization of Yarns and Knits of Enzymatic Treated Wool Tops

Abstract

Wool tops were treated with the enzyme protease Novolan L, the fibers spun into yarn on ring spinning machine and then knitted into fabrics of three different designs and densities. The degree of enzymatic hydrolysis of wool tops was followed through change of the fiber fineness and breaking force, chemical analyses, spinning characteristics of the yarn and dimensional stability of knits. It was found that enzymaticaly hydrolyzed wool was partly demaged. The yarn of hydrolyzed tops has better equality, lower number of neps and lower number of breaking through spinning, lower coefficient of hairiness, whereas the knits have softer feel with better drape, improved pilling performance and better dimensional stability.