Effect of wool fiber modified by ecologically acceptable ozone-assisted treatment on the pilling of knit fabrics

Wool fiber was modified using ecologically acceptable ozone-assisted treatment (ECO) in this study. Chemical and mechanical analysis of the treated samples compared with the untreated, Basolan®88 and Kroy-resin-treated ones are reported. Scanning electronic microscopy results show that the crimp was generated and some scales were partially cleaved on the surface of ECO-treated wool fibers. Fourier transform infrared spectra results suggest the absorbency and the oxidation of disulfide bonds increased after the ECO, especially at 1024 cm ⁻¹ . The crystallinity of the treated wool fiber slightly increased based on the X-ray results. The friction properties of wool fiber samples were also tested. The hairiness and mechanical properties of yarns were tested. The pilling comparative experiments of the corresponding knitted fabrics were conducted with a Martindale fuzzing-pilling and abrasion meter. The pilling grade of knitted fabric comprised of ECO-treated fibers is 3.8 for 5000 abrasion cycles. It is postulated that the surface morphology and physical properties of fibers and the mechanical properties of corresponding yarns of ECO may resist pilling and make pills pull off.