UV OZONE MODIFICATION OF WOOL FIBER SURFACES

An ultraviolet (UV) ozone treatment has been used to oxidise the surfaces of batches of natural wool fibres. The changes in surface composition and chemistry induced by this treatment have been followed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Oxidation of surface di-sulphide sulphur to sulphonic acid groups (-SO3H) containing S6+ is observed at levels of approximately 90% conversion. This is significantly higher than levels previously achieved using oxygen plasmas. The treatment also appears to cause reaction of the proteinaceous carbon, leading to an increase in carbon-oxygen, particularly carbonyl, functionality. The data presented indicate that the treatment used is capable of producing surface sulphur and carbon chemistry of the type usually obtained by wet chlorination.