Experimental analysis demonstrates reduced solvent solubility in Merino wool fibers, indicating stable chemical crosslink formation.
Samples of Merino wool were treated with aqueous solutions of formaldehyde, and the effectiveness of the formalisation on reducing the amount of wool dissolving in four solutions (sodium hydroxide; urea/sodium metabisulphite; thioglycollic acid; potassium thioglycollate/potassium carbonate) was determined. The formaldehyde content of the wool was estimated by a radiochemical technique. Complete insolubilisation was found for urea/sodium metabisulphite and potassium thioglycollate/potassium carbonate solutions, and a limiting value of about 80% reduction in alkali solubility was approached when the concentration of the formaldehyde was increased to about 0.2 M. The thioglycollic acid solubility was more dependent on the formaldehyde content of the wool than were the solubilities in the other three solvents; there was found to be a strong dependence of thioglycollic acid solubility on the formalisation conditions as well as on the formaldehyde content of the wool. The results are discussed in terms of the concept of crosslinkage formation, and they do support this concept.
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Reddie et al. (1972) studied this question.
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