Cuticle modifications and dyeing property of ultrasonically scoured wool

Ultrasonics has the potential to reduce the cost and environmental impact of textile processing. This work investigates the effects of utrasonic irradiation during wool scouring on fibre surface properties and fibre dyeing rate. A range of ultrasonic frequencies were used in the scouring bath to examine the forms of fibre cuticle damage. It was shown that ultrasonically scoured wool underwent some modifications of the fibre surface structure which resulted in a higher rate of dye uptake by the fibres, when compared with the conventionally scoured wool. The lower the ultrasonic frequency the more sever was the cuticle damage to wool during scouring, hence the higher the fibre dye uptake.