Improving the Dyeability of Wool by Treatment with Chitosan

A study of pretreatment of wool fabrics with chitosan by a pad-dry method has been carried out. The pretreatment effectively eliminates differences in dyeing behaviour between damaged and undamaged wool fibres, with an increase in the rate of dye uptake and the exhaustion of acid and reactive dyes. Penetration of the fibre by dyes has been followed using fluorescence microscopy and the role of the chitosan coating in the dyeing process clarified. Similar colour fastness properties were obtained on both untreated and chitosan-treated wool fabrics. The chitosan coating on wool fabrics has been examined by scanning electron microscopy. Evidence for the presence of chitosan was sought using a colorimetric method. It is believed that an approximately uniform and adherent chitosan sheath is formed on individual wool fibres.