Study on Rapid Wool Shrinkproof Method Based on Protease Treatment

In the current work, the objective of shrinkproof wool was rapidly achieved via the synergetic effect between a protease and its bioenzyme activator, dramatically increasing the reaction rate of protease to wool cuticles. Optimal shrinkproof effect was obtained after the wool fiber sample was processed in the enzymatic solution for 3min at 50°C under the optimized treating condition, i.e, the concentrations of protease and enzyme activator were 1.3g/L and 2.5g/L respectively, with the wet pickup ratio of 130%, the resultant wool sample maintained 82% and 80% of its control sample in terms of tenacity and extension @ break, respectively, which meets the requirements for subsequent processing and applications. Further large-scale protease treatment to wool yarns was performed and the test result for shrinkage rate was-3.01% based on the shrinkproof standard test method of IWS TM31(5A×5), indicating satisfactory wool shrinkproof effect at rapid processing rate (7m/min).