Application of extracted feather protein to improve the shrink resistance of wool fabric

In this study, a novel way for modification of wool fabrics by extracted feather protein is introduced. The present investigation aims to establish an environmental friendly approach with feather waste to achieve shrink-resistant wool. For this purpose, chicken feathers were hydrolyzed with a commercial proteolytic enzyme accompanied by a reducing agent. This process was optimized to achieve maximum extraction yield. The extracted feather protein was then applied to modify the wool fibre surface in the presence or absence of a cross-linking agent, glycerol diglycidyl ether. The obtained results showed that treatment of wool fabric with feather protein led to a considerable improvement in anti-felting properties, and application of the cross-linking agent enhanced the shrink-resistant properties of wool further. Besides, the bending length of wool fabrics increased and their tensile strength was apparently unaffected in comparison with the untreated one. The scanning electron micrographs indicated that wool fibers were still intact and were not severely damaged by the applied treatment. The Fourier transform infrared spectra also approved the formation of cross-linked protein on wool fabric.